Yakima Herald-Republic: Tax System Unlikely to See Overhaul This Year

Further, due to reliance on a relatively high sales tax, Washington has ranked as the most regressive state tax system in the nation, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for progressive tax policies.

The poorest 20 percent of state residents pay nearly 17 percent of their income in taxes, compared with 2.8 percent paid by the wealthiest 1 percent, and 4.7 percent by the next-wealthiest 4 percent, according to ITEP.

“Part of the problem is that the voters are getting screwed on this and they don’t know it,” Conway said.

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