Joe Korbuszewski addresses the group protesting a new tax on microbreweries Friday on the Capitol steps.

OLYMPIA – The Legislature looked at raising a wide array of taxes Friday — on beer, gasoline or bottled water, on doctors, lawyers or janitors or on nonresidents who come to Washington to shop.

Some people told legislators it was the right thing to do, either to help schools or protect jobs. Others told them it was the wrong thing to do, because it will hurt businesses and destroy jobs.

Legislators didn't vote Friday on any of the proposals to close exemptions, end special rates, extend surcharges or make temporary taxes permanent. Their fate hinges on upcoming budget negotiations between the House, where the tax increase bills now reside, and the Senate, where a coalition that controls the chamber has vowed not to raise taxes. . .

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OLYMPIA — A plan to end a tax exemption for large banks and extend tax breaks for some other businesses passed the Senate over objections from some of the chambers more conservative Republicans and more liberal Democrats.

The bill, which removes an exemption for large banks for first mortgages, required a two-thirds majority because it is a tax increase. Some senators tried to split that out from the revised tax exemptions for newspapers, food processing operations and server farms, which by themselves only require a simple majority.

“This is a bad precedent (mixing) tax breaks for some and tax increases for others,” Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, argued. “I assure you this will find its way to the courts.”

But the bill passed 35-10, two votes over the required super majority.

Among Spokane-area senators, Mike Baumgartner and Lisa Brown voted yes, Mike Padden and Mark Schoesler voted no. Bob Morton was excused.

OLYMPIA – A coalition of House Democrats and education advocates are asking the courts to void the supermajority required for tax increases, arguing that it’s an unconstitutional limit on legislative authority.
State Republicans and the sponsor of initiatives that have repeatedly resulted in voters imposing that two-thirds majority quickly denounced the lawsuit as ignoring the will of the voters.
Tim Eyman, who had another such initiative certified Monday for this November’s ballot, said the suit could boost that measure. It could also provide campaign fodder for Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, who as state attorney general will have the task of defending the supermajority requirement in the courts.
“This is going to bode well for us,” Eyman said of Initiative 1125. “It’s an extraordinary gift they’ve given to the McKenna campaign.”

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OLYMPIA – A special legislative session to address the state’s budget problems will continue until one side or the other blinks on the sales tax.

On one side: A majority of Democrats who control the Senate want to increase the sales tax as part of their plan to raise about $800 million in taxes as a balanced plan to close a projected $2.8 billion budget gap.

On the other side: A majority of Democrats who control the House of Representatives, and Gov. Chris Gregoire, who want to raise that money with other taxes.

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OLYMPIA — The Senate approved changing state law to allow taxes to be raised this year and next with a simple majority.

After a lengthy debate and a time out for parliamentary measures, the Senate voted 26-23 to suspend the provisions of Initiative 960 that requires a two-thirds majority to raise taxes. The supermajority would return after July 1, 2011.

All Republicans voted against the bill, as did five Democrats, among them Sen. Chris Marr of Spokane. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, voted to pass the bill which is generally regarded as a step toward raising some taxes to help close the state’s projected budget gap..

It now goes to the House of Representatives.

OLYMPIA — Sen. Cheryl Pflug says of the 1,001 letters she’s received, only six approve repealing the supermajority to raise taxes

If you do this, many of you will return to a wall of rage at home” Pflug, R-Maple Valley, warned. “People are hurting, and you are hurting them more.”’

Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, “What is it about the will of the people that worries you? What does it really mean? I believe we have to listen. I think we’re seeing that (wall of rage) all across the country. Now we see the same kind of arrogance that caused many of us to run for public office. And now here we are, seeing it again, amongst us. Are we in tough times, of course we are. Is it going to be hard to reduce the budget, you bet. We can do this without (the bill) We don’t need it, we don’t have to circumvent the will of the people.”

Sen. Tracy Eide, D-Des Moines: “We are in unprecedented times. How many of you have lived through a time like this? How many of you have family members who are unemployed? I do. I have friends who have business that they are cut way back. I had a 401K that now is a 101K. We are in a crisis. We need to think logically. And who do the people of this state turn to when they need help? They turn to us. A wise man told me last week ‘Tracy, those of us who have, have to help those of us who have not.’ I’m voting for this bill to keep our options open. We need to step up to the plate and help them.”

OLYMPIA — A Republican amendment described as an attempt to fix technical problems with the title is being discussed.

“Enough is enough,” Sen. Rodney Tom, a Democratic vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee argues. “It’s time to vote” on the bill itself.

Amendment fails 22-26, like the previous ones, with all Republicans and Democrats Tim Sheldon and Chris Marr voting yes.

OLYMPIA — Arguing against changes to the state’s supermajority for tax increases continues, and some senators are attempting to usie t to their best advantage

“The citizens voted their conscience. Now we’re throwing that away. We’re ignoring the will of the people,” Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, who recently announced he was running for the U.S. Senate, said while looking straight into the television camera. “Shouldn’t we ask the people who put it in place if they feel the current situation warrants gutting the protections they put in place?”

Turns out the camera wasn’t on, but a candidate running for higher office needs all the practice they can get