Meeting with reporters today, House Speaker Frank Chopp said that a proposed third-of-a-cent sales tax increase to reduce cuts to hospitals, nursing homes and health care programs is "better than 50/50 to be on the ballot" in November.

Income tax?

He sounded less enthusiastic about a "high-earners" state income tax being discussed in the Senate, noting that the governor has already criticized the idea as offering little help for Washington's current two-year budget problems.

Could the sales tax plan include money for education? "At this point there doesn't appear to be a strong consensus" on that, he said, although he said meetings are still taking place.

Bond issue for fixing schools?

Chopp did, however, indicate that he supports the idea of asking voters to pay for bonds to fix up schools. Gov. Chris Gregoire has said she'd support about a $1 billion bond issue for that; Rep. Hans Dunshee is pushing for a bigger $3 billion package, saying it means jobs and modern, more energy-efficient buildings.

"I'm very pleased with that basic approach," Chopp said, although he said that lawmakers are still meeting to figure out how to pay for those bonds.

14 percent college tuition hike?

Chopp also indicated that he's supportive of Gregoire's proposal to allow colleges to hike tuition up to 14 percent a year over the next two years (because of compounding, this works out to nearly a 30 percent increase over two years).

With the additional federal financial aid and tax credits available this year, he said, that sort of increase seems like "a good balance" to avoid deep cuts at colleges.

Levy lid lift for schools?

Chopp also said that "there's real strong support for" Gregoire's proposal to let school districts impose $62 million in local property taxes that voters have already approved, but that cannot be collected because of a state "lid" on levies.

 

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