This is an idea that legislative advocates should have had weeks ago: The folks at the private Washington State Budget and Policy Center have put together a handy online calculator to estimate how much a person would receive if the state working families tax rebate becomes reality.

The rebate is a key part of a proposed third-of-a-cent state sales tax increase. To offset the impact for low-income families, many Democrats are insisting on a rebate. It would be patterned on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. If you get that, you'd get an extra 5 percent from the state.

Writes the policy center's Jeff Chapman:

For example, a married couple with two kids and $20,000 in wages would receive $251 dollars. A single parent with one child would receive $152. The minimum credit for those who are eligible is $25.

The sales tax plan, which would steer hundreds of millions of dollars into hospitals, nursing homes and other health services if voters agree, is struggling to find support in the House in the final days of the legislative session. Republicans and some conservative Democrats argue that in a consumer-driven recession, it's unwise to increase taxes.

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