The Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition (ROEFC) has made a list of tax breaks available to those with money to spend versus cuts to programs that aid those who don’t. The Governor and the Legislature in Olympia are planning to make these cuts while retaining tax breaks like these, and more, even as we speak. Here’s how ROEFC lays it down:
“Governor Gregoire’s all-cuts supplemental budget scrutinizes every tax dollar spent on health care, education, and other critical public services, but tax loopholes and subsidies have escaped the same scrutiny.
Legislators have a choice.
• Giveaway to Wall Street Banks $25 million supp. */$100 million a year
or elimination of Basic Health Plan $26.8 million-supp. *
* supp. – supplemental, referring apparently to 2011 budget items
• Sales tax exemption for out-of-state shoppers $10 million-supp./$44 million a year
or elimination of a portion of Children’s Health Plan $9.3 million-supp.
• Sales tax exemption for non-organic fertilizer $4 million-supp./$40 million a year
or reduction of maternity support services $3.2 million-supp.
• Sales tax exemption-out of state coal $2.75 million supp./$11 million a year
• Sales tax exemption- cosmetic surgery $2 million supp./$8 million a year
or suspension of Community Health Center grants $5.3 million-supp.
• Special tax treatment of private jets $1.25 million supp./$5 million a year
or reduction of cancer screenings $1.5 million-supp.
• Sales tax exemption for display items $500,000 supp./$2 million a year
for tradeshows
or reduction in air pollution control account $500,000-supp.”