In Our View: Cheers & Jeers

The Columbian - Editorial Staff

Cheers: To Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell. The Democrat's first bill of the 113th Congress would make permanent the sales tax deduction for Washington residents and those of other states who don't pay state income taxes. Most states, such as Oregon, tax the incomes of their residents. When it comes time to file federal returns, many of those taxpayers can deduct the state income taxes they paid. But Washington residents, who pay the highly regressive sales tax, can't do the same without frequent reauthorization. In a news release, Cantwell notes that the deduction puts an average of nearly $500 back into the pockets of 950,000 Washington taxpayers. It's time to make the deduction permanent.

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