Taking a tax holiday
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has proposed a tax holiday for worker's compensation. From the subscription-required Spokesman-Review:
Gregoire is pursuing a sensible course of action by seeing that surplus money stays with workers and businesses and is thus re-invested into the economy. Hardly the act of a radical "socialist-commie" or whatever nonsense the far right loons want to tag Gregoire with.
I am starting to understand why conservatives told so many lies during the recount: they must have known, deep down, that Gregoire would govern in an able manner and have a very succesful first term. That's what is unfolding right now. Her approval ratings are through the roof and she's taking care of business. Competence and intelligence are such valuable qualities in an executive. At least we have that at the state level.
More-- Here's an article on the topic from The Olympian. It's a better article and it's not behind some idiotic subscription service.
Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislative leaders are proposing a six-month "rate holiday" in workers' compensation premiums for the second half of 2007, a move that would save companies and workers an estimated $315 million.Immediately after the election, a frequent and bitter complaint from some conservatives was that Democrats would now raise taxes, because that's what Democrats live for. Which is and has always been a patently absurd claim to make.
The change would come on top of an estimated $89 million in savings next year due to already-approved lower premiums for unemployment and workers' compensation rates. Total savings: $404 million.
"That's money we hope will be reinvested in business and reinvested in the economy," Gregoire said at a morning press conference at the state Capitol. Hearings on the plan will be held this month, including one in Spokane at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 in the Ridpath Hotel. The Legislature is expected to vote on the proposal in the next session.
Under the plan, a builder with about 25 full-time workers would save roughly $22,000. A farmer with the same number of workers would save about $5,300. Many workers would also see slightly higher paychecks.
Gregoire is pursuing a sensible course of action by seeing that surplus money stays with workers and businesses and is thus re-invested into the economy. Hardly the act of a radical "socialist-commie" or whatever nonsense the far right loons want to tag Gregoire with.
I am starting to understand why conservatives told so many lies during the recount: they must have known, deep down, that Gregoire would govern in an able manner and have a very succesful first term. That's what is unfolding right now. Her approval ratings are through the roof and she's taking care of business. Competence and intelligence are such valuable qualities in an executive. At least we have that at the state level.
More-- Here's an article on the topic from The Olympian. It's a better article and it's not behind some idiotic subscription service.
