November 20, 2009 in City

Region in brief: Washington state Democrats warn of tax hikes

From Staff And Wire Reports The Spokesman-Review

OLYMPIA – Tax increases probably can’t be avoided as the state tries to patch a budget deficit that’s ballooned to about $2.6 billion, top Democratic lawmakers said Thursday.

Leading options include closing tax loopholes and raising “sin” taxes, typically levied on indulgences like tobacco and alcohol.

Broad-based tax hikes, such as the levies on sales and business revenue, are probably a last resort because of the fragile economic recovery, Democrats said.

Further spending cuts also are on the table.

Through mid-2011, when the current state budget expires, the treasury will collect about $760 million less than previously expected.

One major factor is a lack of consumer confidence, which depresses spending in Washington’s sales-driven revenue structure, state chief economist Arun Raha said.

Swine flu clinics planned in N. Idaho

The Panhandle Health District will take appointments Monday and Tuesday for two Nov. 30 H1N1 clinics in Kootenai and Bonner counties.

The clinics are for people in vaccination target groups.

The health district has 1,000 doses of vaccine available, primarily as shots, a news release said. A limited amount of nasal mist vaccine is available.

The toll-free appointment line – (877) 415-5225 – will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The target groups: pregnant women; people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months; anyone ages 6 months to 24 years; health care and emergency response workers and people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions.

The Nov. 30 clinics will be held:

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bonner Mall in Sandpoint.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d’Alene.

For more information, go to www.phd1.idaho.gov.

Information sought on child’s assailant

A woman assaulted a child at the STA Plaza in downtown Spokane on Wednesday morning, and Spokane police are asking for help identifying her.

Surveillance video released Thursday shows the woman grabbing the toddler’s coat and kicking the child to the ground about 7:30 a.m.

Police believe the woman often catches a bus in Spokane Valley near Indiana and Pines, then transfers at the Plaza to a northbound bus.

The woman was wearing a brown coat with a fur collar, blue jeans, a white shirt, a black beanie and a long chain with a black pendant. She was pushing a large, navy blue stroller covered with a white blanket. The toddler looked about 2 and wore a blue winter jumpsuit and a blue beanie.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or submit tips online at www.crime stoppersinlandnorthwest. org.

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Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

dick adams on November 20 at 6:28 a.m.
Gov. Gregoire`s name should have been a banner headline as she is the one that got the State into the financial mess were in today. Gregoire`s reckless spending habits continue even today during the current recession. Its no wonder consumer confidence is in the tank. Some of the blame I suppose should go to Alex Woods, and Lisa Brown.

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shanusmaximus on November 20 at 1:35 p.m.
“Despite acknowledgement of the severity of the budget problem from both political parties and the governor, there has been very little leadership displayed by anyone in a position to do so. Gov. Gregoire recently rejected the idea of a special session to deal with the problem, saying budget writers “haven’t gone in-depth” on the budget, and therefore couldn’t make thoughtful decisions.

The Democratic leadership in the legislature has also remained mum about offering any actual solutions, other than alluding to the “need” for tax increases.

Republicans have been fractured and disjointed in their response to the problem. Though Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-18) has been calling for a special session for months, Republicans have not united behind him, nor is their leadership proposing an alternative plan of their own.

The longer legislators wait to address the problem, the deeper the cuts will need to be. We are only five months in to the current two-year budget cycle, which means any dollar that is saved effective January 1 is equivalent to a $1.50 cut in July.

If legislators were to pass an immediate savings bill in early December (as they did last March), they would have 19 months to eliminate the $2.6 billion deficit, or $137 million per month.

If they wait until end of March, they would have only 15 months to make cuts, meaning cuts would be 27 percent higher. ”

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