June 13, 2014

Puget Sound Business Journal: Replace sales tax hike with business tax to pay for transit

media mention

Seattle Councilmembers Nick Licata and Kshama Sawant

Jun 12, 2014, 10:59am PDT

Washington state has the nation’s most regressive tax structure, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s (a progressive D.C.-based think tank) latest edition of “ Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States.” Washington state’s sales and excises taxes generate more than 61 percent of state and local tax revenue, compared to a national average of only 34 percent.

Our transit funding proposal results in a more progressive tax, not a regressive one. Elected officials have a responsibility to fight for progressive revenue options whenever possible. Ultimately, we must build support for measures such as taxing the super-rich and ensuring that big business pays a share commensurate with its high private profit rates.

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