Reader Spotlight: Washington has gotten bum rap

Washington has gotten bum rap

There seems to be more and more articles disparaging Washington state. A July 23 guest opinion from a Kennewick resident, “Idaho has a fiscal lesson to teach its neighbor,” offers a one-sided claim.

I’m happy Idaho can claim reserves totaling $1.3 billion, but where did it come from? If you look at it from a different perspective, Washington, a donor state, paid approximately $160 billion in federal taxes, which is over 3% of all federal taxes received. Washington pays more than $50 billion more than it receives back from the federal government. Idaho, in turn, receives billions more than what it pays into the federal government coffers. Idaho receives over 23% of its total revenue from the federal government. Idahoans pay $4,000 less in federal income tax than the national average, where Washingtonians pay $3,100 above the national average which is $13,000. Washington has a minimum wage of $17.13, Idaho’s is $7.25, Montana has a minimum wage of $10.85 and Wyoming $5.15.

Washington, in other words, could possibly subsidize states like Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. If Washington was paid back just a fraction of that $50 billion, it would possibly solve all the school funding short falls, and maybe who knows what else.

Yes, Washingtonians pay more taxes, but in most cases we have made that choice. A few reasons we pay more taxes is that Washington prioritizes schools and education, healthcare, women’s medical care, wages for teachers, police, and firefighters. Fair wages are required if you want a strong police force and fire department. We also pay for our mass transit, infrastructure, facilities for sports and entertainment, and much more.

I moved from Idaho to Washington not just for more pay and to pay more taxes, but for the education of my children, their health and that of my wife and myself. If you are thinking of moving to Idaho, think twice.

David Salcido

Spokane Valley