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[WA Rep.] Baird opposition to GOP tax relief appears spiteful
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Candidate
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| Contributor | Ralphie |
| Last Edited | Ralphie Jun 29, 2004 04:05pm |
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| Category | Editorial |
| News Date | Tuesday, June 22, 2004 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Deductibility of a portion of our state sales tax from our federal income taxes moved a big step forward last week with passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of a corporate tax rate cut bill that includes the deduction.
In an action that has the appearance of political spite, our 3rd District Rep. Brian Baird, a Democrat, voted against the measure, which passed 251-178. Fortunately, 48 of his 204 Democratic colleagues in the House joined with 203 out of 228 Republicans to provide the winning margin.
Granted, Baird has been a strong, persistent proponent in recent years for restoring the sales tax deduction in this and six other states that lost it, by a vote of Congress, in 1986. He deserves credit for that, which we have often given him. But when it came down to a vote that would decide the issue in the House, Baird chose politics over tax relief for his 3rd District constituents.
Basically, it wasn’t Baird’s bill — it was sponsored by the Republicans — so he was against it. It appears since he couldn’t get the credit he thought he should, he voted no.
It had to be a Republican initiative to be successful and was. Republicans taking credit for the deduction now, including the state’s three GOP House members, deserve to do so.
All three, including U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt who is seeking Democrat Patty Murray’s Senate seat, voted for the bill. All six of the state’s Democratic House members, including Baird, were opposed. |
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