BILL REQ. #: H-5196.1

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HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4030
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State of Washington

61st Legislature

2010 Regular Session

By Representatives Liias, Driscoll, Johnson, Kirby, Wallace, Eddy, Maxwell, Williams, Hunt, White, Nelson, Seaquist, Walsh, Linville, Ericks, Orwall, Kagi, Wood, Van De Wege, Green, Cody, Darneille, Haigh, Morrell, Blake, Takko, Dickerson, Dunshee, Upthegrove, Kessler, Hudgins, Pedersen, Simpson, Goodman, Sells, O'Brien, Kenney, Rolfes, Springer, Hasegawa, Appleton, Kelley, Miloscia, Hope, Pettigrew, Priest, Warnick, McCune, Chase, Moeller, Campbell, Probst, Finn, Carlyle, Conway, and Clibborn

Read first time 02/15/10. Referred to Committee on Finance.

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The state of Washington imposes a sales tax rather than a state income tax; and
     WHEREAS, Six other states impose a sales tax with little or no state income tax; and
     WHEREAS, The federal tax code allows a deduction for state income taxes, resulting in a disadvantage for taxpayers in states that do not impose an income tax; and
     WHEREAS, For the past several years, taxpayers have been given the choice of deducting their state income tax or a state sales tax on their federal returns; and
     WHEREAS, The impact of this tax break amounts to a reduction in taxable income by two billion two hundred ninety million dollars, or about two thousand three hundred fifty dollars per return; and
     WHEREAS, This tax break helps families and, ultimately, grows local economies;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the deduction for states' sales tax be continued and adopted as a permanent tax deduction.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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