“The fight over what would be Washington’s first state income tax since 1933 is shaping up as a battle of the titans: Both [Bill Gates’ 84-year-old father, William Gates Sr.], a prominent retired lawyer and philanthropist, and his son, the richest man in America, are backing I-1098. But three of the state’s other biggest businessmen, current Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and John Nordstrom of the Seattle-based retail chain â are throwing big money into the campaign to defeat it,” Kim Murphy reports for The Los Angeles Times. “Washington voters are being asked to endorse a tax philosophy that is in many ways similar to President Obama’s approach to shrinking the federal deficit: Keep the tax burden off low- and middle-income families while raising taxes on the wealthy.”
Murphy reports, “The ballot measure would raise about $2 billion a year for education and healthcare by taxing gross income above $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for couples, while trimming other taxes for small businesses and property owners… But Washington, one of only seven states with no income tax, has made its tax-free status an important selling point in attracting new business.”
“Opponents warn that new taxes on well-off entrepreneurs would make it harder to recruit talented employees and would eat into business owners’ ability to reinvest, raise wages and create new jobs,” Murphy reports. “‘As a former Microsoft employee, I absolutely know it would damage Microsoft’s ability to compete. Part of their ability to attract talent from all over the world is because there’s no state income tax here,’ said Scott Stanzel, a former deputy White House press secretary under President George W. Bush and a public relations manager for the software company who now is running the campaign to defeat I-1098.”
Murphy reports, “Opponents fear that the proposed tax - 5% on income above $200,000, 9% above $500,000 - could plunge Washington into the same economic traumas being experienced in states like California. ‘Don’t Calitaxicate Washington,’ the Seattle Times urged in an editorial opposing the measure, which polls show is a tossup. They also warn it may not be a tax only on the rich for long. The initiative allows the Legislature to change its terms two years after passage. ‘What is billed as a high-earners tax is simply a backdoor way of extending an income tax to all Washingtonians in the future,’ Stanzel said.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
Of course, cutting wasteful and non-nessary essential spending is NEVER an option. It’s always, dive into other’s pockets.
Anyone with half-a-brain knows this money never ends up going to it’s campaign designations. The legislator moves around laws, and suddenly it’s out there for new casino-land along I-5… Oh, just a little bit of it here and there for such things.
Taxing the rich. Ha. Playing the 3rd grader envy game. “Yeah, let’s get the rich, they are evil!” Yes, and poor lazy people are good, rich people are all bad.
What a pathetic way to pander for policy making. Shows the ignorance of the American populous now-a-days.
Of course, if it passes, WA will just continue to spiral downwards, which hopefully at some point in the future, people will catch a clue and wake up to the fact that lower taxes actually brings in more venue to the government not less. Duh.
Dems have done themselves a huge injustice. They’ve decided to make how economics works, a them vs us idea. Stupid. Because Economics is what it is, it has no political venue, but the Dems – and glad GOP – have made it such.
The Gov of NJ (CC) couldn’t tighten his belt if he wanted to. His lard arse would fill the back seat of a Hummer. He’s just another NeoCon who wants something for nothing. Schools, roads, EMS, Fire Departments, parks and all the rest cost money.
As to the specious argument that taxes drive away business, all the disciples of Ayn Rand should go to Somalia. There are NO TAXES, NO UNIONS, NO SOCIAL PROGRAMS, NO GUN LAWS & NO Government. Move there a couple of years and then come back and tell us how it worked out for you.
The Gov of NJ (CC) couldn’t tighten his belt if he wanted to. His lard arse would fill the back seat of a Hummer. He’s just another NeoCon who wants something for nothing. Schools, roads, EMS, Fire Departments, parks and all the rest cost money.
As to the specious argument that taxes drive away business, all the disciples of Ayn Rand should go to Somalia. There are NO TAXES, NO UNIONS, NO SOCIAL PROGRAMS, NO GUN LAWS & NO Government. Move there a couple of years and then come back and tell us how it worked out for you.
It’s a shame there is too much white trash in Florida, otherwise I’d consider it
It’s a shame there is too much white trash in Florida, otherwise I’d consider it
the rich are unfairly being targeted, but tax the rich they are the only ones who have money to be taxed. The rest of you poor/middle class folks should thank the rich and not look to them with distaste you’re just jealous. They are the ones paying for all you and they use the least public services. what’s wrong with making profit / greedy? that’s good in this capitalistic economy.
the rich are unfairly being targeted, but tax the rich they are the only ones who have money to be taxed. The rest of you poor/middle class folks should thank the rich and not look to them with distaste you’re just jealous. They are the ones paying for all you and they use the least public services. what’s wrong with making profit / greedy? that’s good in this capitalistic economy.
People like “rick” in this thread are idiots. “Waaahh, it’s not fair!”
TOUGH! Life isn’t fair. We already pay ENOUGH in taxes.
Newsflash: The top 1% of earners (i.e. PRODUCERS) already pay 40% of the Federal income taxes, while the bottom 40% pay NO Federal income tax.
And you want to go and RAISE state-level income taxes?
You’re insane.
Never, ever, ever, EVER vote for an income tax increase. It will NEVER be enough for them.
The LAST 3 SENTENCES of this article snippet are the key — soon the state government will change the rules so they can get even MORE tax revenue . . . all of it to sink into the bottomless pit of government.
“Rory” above is exactly correct.
People like “rick” in this thread are idiots. “Waaahh, it’s not fair!”
TOUGH! Life isn’t fair. We already pay ENOUGH in taxes.
Newsflash: The top 1% of earners (i.e. PRODUCERS) already pay 40% of the Federal income taxes, while the bottom 40% pay NO Federal income tax.
And you want to go and RAISE state-level income taxes?
You’re insane.
Never, ever, ever, EVER vote for an income tax increase. It will NEVER be enough for them.
The LAST 3 SENTENCES of this article snippet are the key — soon the state government will change the rules so they can get even MORE tax revenue . . . all of it to sink into the bottomless pit of government.
“Rory” above is exactly correct.
Man, I can’t WAIT until November 2nd.
Never in my life have I looked forward to an election more than this.
Do-nothing, feel-good bleeders of society are going to get a wake-up call.
Man, I can’t WAIT until November 2nd.
Never in my life have I looked forward to an election more than this.
Do-nothing, feel-good bleeders of society are going to get a wake-up call.
The petty jealously you see in these posts is amazing. The ideas are universal in them:
Rich People are Evil: Not true. All people are evil. Rich may like toys, that’s great. Someone builds those boats, cars and new homes. People like me and you. The average Joe. Having them spend money when the rest of us can’t keeps the economy afloat.
Rich People are Mean: Not true. All people are mean. In fact, I believe a lot of poor drug users kill and mug people…
We Can Tell People What To Do With Their Money: False. Some idea that if someone makes $XX a year, we can then tell them that’s too much. That isn’t America that’s pure unadulterated Fascism 101 and it’s the end to all freedoms.
The petty jealously you see in these posts is amazing. The ideas are universal in them:
Rich People are Evil: Not true. All people are evil. Rich may like toys, that’s great. Someone builds those boats, cars and new homes. People like me and you. The average Joe. Having them spend money when the rest of us can’t keeps the economy afloat.
Rich People are Mean: Not true. All people are mean. In fact, I believe a lot of poor drug users kill and mug people…
We Can Tell People What To Do With Their Money: False. Some idea that if someone makes $XX a year, we can then tell them that’s too much. That isn’t America that’s pure unadulterated Fascism 101 and it’s the end to all freedoms.
I just think its not unreasonable to make them pay more taxes, since they have a ton of more disposable income. they are not going to be burdened by it. Unless, they really want that mercedes Gullwing instead of a BMW 500series.
I also think some of these rich folks are pissed, cause they planted themselves in WA to avoid state taxes, and now they have to pick up and move to one of only 6 other states.
I just think its not unreasonable to make them pay more taxes, since they have a ton of more disposable income. they are not going to be burdened by it. Unless, they really want that mercedes Gullwing instead of a BMW 500series.
I also think some of these rich folks are pissed, cause they planted themselves in WA to avoid state taxes, and now they have to pick up and move to one of only 6 other states.
@I earned it
I agree, screw taxes. Just continue to put everything on the credit card and let the next generations figure out what to do. And who cares if the roads, gaslines, sewers, crime get worse. Fire the police and fireman. Stop checking our food and drugs. It ain’t our problem, is it?
@I earned it
I agree, screw taxes. Just continue to put everything on the credit card and let the next generations figure out what to do. And who cares if the roads, gaslines, sewers, crime get worse. Fire the police and fireman. Stop checking our food and drugs. It ain’t our problem, is it?
that’s the second thing i’v agreed with blamer on (and micro$oft infact) in my entire life.(so here is a list for those who are counting)
1 taking on google (I hate google)
2 this
now what I don’t want to here is Steve Jobs’ position on this (I hate it when my heros start getting in to politics)
that’s the second thing i’v agreed with blamer on (and micro$oft infact) in my entire life.(so here is a list for those who are counting)
1 taking on google (I hate google)
2 this
now what I don’t want to here is Steve Jobs’ position on this (I hate it when my heros start getting in to politics)
I work for a vagrant that sleeps under a freeway overpass. I’m making a killing this year.
The vagrant i work for is definitely in favor of taxing the rich.
I work for a vagrant that sleeps under a freeway overpass. I’m making a killing this year.
The vagrant i work for is definitely in favor of taxing the rich.
Hate to tell you this Stephen. Jobs makes great products, but he is a rich snob who doesn’t give a shit about the working class
Hate to tell you this Stephen. Jobs makes great products, but he is a rich snob who doesn’t give a shit about the working class
I absolutely know it would damage Microsoft’s ability to compete.
MS always needs a new excuse for failure.
I absolutely know it would damage Microsoft’s ability to compete.
MS always needs a new excuse for failure.