| Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update for Washington State | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 |
Fighting for a Permanent Sales Tax Deduction
Last week, an overwhelming majority of my Senate colleagues joined me in calling for a permanent sales tax deduction for Washington state. In most other states, taxpayers can deduct state income taxes on their federal tax returns. However, residents of states with a higher sales tax in place of income taxes had no similar benefit until 2004 when I first got a sales tax deduction signed into law. Unless Congress acts, the deduction I worked to pass will expire at the end of the 2005 tax season. I’m fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Members of the House and Senate are currently meeting in a conference committee to work out differences between House and Senate versions of a pending tax bill. The Senate-passed bill includes a provision that would extend the sales tax deduction through 2007. Last week’s Senate action instructs the conference committee to replace the extension with a provision making the deduction permanent. This is great news for Washington. In 2004, the tax cut saved Washingtonians over $500 million, with almost 850,000 taxpayers taking advantage of the deduction. The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council estimated that during 2004 and 2005, the deduction would help create 3,000 jobs and produce hundreds of millions of dollars in economic stimulus. Making this deduction permanent would give our region’s economy a big, long-term boost.
Meeting with Bush to Demand Affordable, Regionally Controlled Electricity
Last week, I met with President Bush and Energy Secretary Sam Bodman to discuss their proposed BPA rate hike. At the meetings, I let them know about the Pacific Northwest’s deep opposition to their plan to reverse a decades-old BPA policy of using revenue from surplus power sales to lower electricity rates for Northwest consumers. We’ve had regional control of our energy resources for decades, and I’m going to work to make sure we keep it that way. Pushing ahead with this plan now would undercut our ability to provide the affordable electricity Northwest families and business need, and I’m determined to fight it every step of the way. Early estimates say it would cost over 1,000 jobs and raise Northwest power rates by almost $1 billion. I will do everything I can to protect our economy, control record energy costs, and stop this administration from forcing a rate hike past the objections of every single member of the Northwest Senate delegation.
If you’d like to join my petition to stop the Bush budget from raising Northwest electricity rates, please go to my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov/petition/bpa.cfm and add your name and address. 6,500 citizens have already signed on.
Working Toward Energy Independence
When I met with President Bush last week, we also discussed the importance of breaking America’s oil addiction. I emphasized the importance of developing fuel from non-traditional fuel crops like those we grow in Washington state, as well as the need to put alternative fuels on equal footing with more traditional sources of energy. I was pleased to hear the president reaffirm his support for the development of more cost-effective, efficiently produced alternative fuels. This is an issue I’ve been working on for years and I hope the administration is truly ready to work together to make energy independence a reality. Our nation’s economy and security depend on the development of affordable, sustainable, domestic sources of fuels. I’m going to continue promoting the significant investments in renewable fuels we need to keep our economy competitive and our nation secure.
Celebrating Black History Month
This month we celebrate Black History Month and reflect on the diverse history we share as a nation. As we pause to celebrate past success—reflecting on the heroic accomplishments of individuals and the tremendous achievement of whole communities—we must also work to be stronger still for the future and never forget the importance of standing up for social justice and genuine equality.
Make Your Voice Heard: Improve Our Nation’s Healthcare System
If you’re one of the many Washington state citizens concerned by rising healthcare costs or access to quality care, join the Citizen’s Healthcare Working Group in Seattle on February 25 and make your voice heard. The Citizen’s Healthcare Working Group was created by Congress to provide for a nationwide debate on health care and will take comments and suggestions from citizens through the internet and at community meetings. After hearing from individuals across the country, the Working Group will make final recommendations to Congress in September. Visit the Citizen’s Healthcare Working Group online at http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov to comment or learn more. The Washington state event will be held on Saturday, February 25 in Seattle. Go to http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/register/ for more information.
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