Washington Tax Fairness Pledge

We need a tax system that is:

Fair—Taxes are based on one’s ability to pay. People and businesses with higher incomes are asked to pay their fair share.

Sufficient—Enough revenue is raised to promote a healthy economy and meet the public needs of our citizens, including education, health, and human services.

Stable—There is a stable stream of revenue during times of economic growth and economic recession.

Accountable—Government is accountable to the people.  All spending, taxes and tax exemptions should be publicly disclosed, and reviewed and evaluated to ensure they provide public benefits.

To reach these goals, I support a tax reform package that includes:

• Disclosing and evaluating all tax exemptions so the public can determine whether they meet public goals.

• Eliminating some tax exemptions to bring in needed revenue and ensure that everyone is paying their fair share.

• Lowering the sales tax rate to reduce taxes on middle- and low-income families.

• Establishing a personal income tax, so taxes are related to how much people make and wealthier people pay their fair share.

• Reforming business taxes to reduce taxes on small and new businesses.

• Extending the sales tax to some professional and consumer services so our taxes keep up with the changing economy.