Instead of an all-cuts budget, the legislature should look first at closing tax loopholes
Olympia – The Our Economic Future coalition, with over 140 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Washington citizens, released this statement today in response to the all-cuts budget proposed by the state House.
“These cuts are unsustainable. We can't cut our way out of the recession, and these cuts will only create more expensive problems in the future.
These are extraordinary times. We have already cut over $6 billion from public services like education and healthcare, and legislators propose cutting $5 billion more. As a state, we are facing significant challenges that call for significant leadership in response. Now is the time to take a hard look at the tax break system, and a hard look at what we want our state and our communities to look like in the future.
Tax breaks are spending. It's not fair to scrutinize spending on public programs that provide access to quality education, or in-home care for seniors, or mental health services for people in need, while giving tax breaks a free pass.
Moreover, there’s no accountability in the tax break system: only 17 percent of existing breaks have been reviewed for effectiveness, most have no sunset date, and recipients don’t have to prove that their special treatment helps our state through job creation.
Legislators do have a choice. The choice is between cutting tax breaks for Wall Street banks and private jets, or cutting public services. It is outrageous and unjustifiable to use the two-thirds vote requirement as an excuse to support subsidies for special interests.
We urge a more balanced approach. The responsible thing to do is to cut tax breaks first before cutting into vital public services.
If the legislature can't do it, then let the people decide.”
The Our Economic Future Coalition is a coalition of more than 140 organizations concerned about deep proposed state budget cuts to core services. The Coalition is calling on lawmakers to find a more responsible and balanced approach to closing the current budget gap that includes closing tax loopholes and identifying new sources of revenue. www.oureconomicfuture.org.
Thank you for posting this. It will be an uphill battle against the strong official American religion (devout worship of Mammon).
ReplyDeleteAbe Jacobson
Bellingham
Meanwhile, Disability Lifeline recipients are struggling to survive on $190 per month. Our government, our trusted leaders just threw our most vulnerable citizens under a bus while it caters to multi-billion dollar corporations, who fund their campaigns.
ReplyDeleteOur Governor should be ashamed. Our legislature should be ashamed. Civilized nations and states do not turn their most vulnerable citizens into political footballs. Hell, even Scott Brown gets it - why is Christine doing this? And don't spoon feed me platitudes that she has her hands tied. She is using people - creating untold hardship and misery to avoid tax reform. No matter how you look at it, this behavior is dispicable.