H-1087.2  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4007

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Dunn, B. Chandler and Carlson

Read first time 02/01/1999.  Referred to Committee on Finance.

Requesting Oregon to provide better tax treatment for Washington residents.

    TO THE HONORABLE JOHN KITZHABER, GOVERNOR OF OREGON, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OR OREGON, AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF OREGON:

    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, Many residents of the State of Washington work at jobs located in Oregon; and

    WHEREAS, These workers contribute significantly to the vitality and prosperity of the Oregon economy; and

    WHEREAS, The states of Washington and Oregon have chosen greatly different tax systems whereby Oregon taxes income and Washington taxes consumption; and

    WHEREAS, Clark County Washington residents pay more in personal income tax to Oregon than do the residents of twenty-nine Oregon counties; and

    WHEREAS, Washington residents working in Oregon must pay taxes to two states: Income taxes to Oregon and sales taxes to Washington; and

    WHEREAS, The amount of income taxes paid by Washington residents to Oregon greatly exceed the cost of public services they receive from Oregon; and

    WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the State of Oregon and the State of Washington to adopt policies that will benefit the economic vitality of both states;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Legislature of the State of Oregon ensure more fair treatment of Washington residents working in Oregon by reducing the Oregon income tax to a level commensurate with services received by these Washington residents.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable John Kitzhaber, Governor of the State of Oregon, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the State of Oregon, and each member of the Legislature of the State of Oregon.

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