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The Petri Dish
February 9, 2010

 
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Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?


Posted at 6:49 am by Jerry Cornfield

One of the larger tax increases to be sought by Democrats this session was on today's agenda of the House Capital Budget Committee for a public hearing and vote.

Then it disappeared.

At 3:48 p.m. Monday, the committee chaired by Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, issued an updated line-up for today's 2 p.m. meeting.

It called for a public hearing and action on House Bill 3181 if the bill was referred to the committee. According to the bill history, it was.

I'm sure there's no problem with the bill. But it will incite a hot political fight and maybe Democrats realize there's no reason to hurry into this battle today.

As proposed, the bill could raise as much as $250 million a year with much of that going into the cash-starved general fund this biennium.

It calls for increasing the Hazardous Substance Tax rate paid by oil refiners from 0.7 percent to 2.0 percent and pours the revenue into a whole bunch of different accounts.

Here's the allocation breakdown from the staff report on the bill. (Note: This bill appears to tie the hands of future Legislatures on the allocation of dollars which I'm not sure is really kosher with some members.)

Between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011:
20 percent is deposited in the new Storm Water Account;
1.9 percent is deposited in the Oil Spill Prevention Account;
2.05 percent is deposited in the Puget Sound Recovery Account;
2.05 percent is deposited in the new State Clean Water Account;
5 percent is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account; and
69 percent is deposited in the State General Fund.

Between July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2013:
45 percent is deposited in the new Storm Water Account;
1.2 percent is deposited in the Oil Spill Prevention Account;
2.4 percent is deposited in the Puget Sound Recovery Account;
2.4 percent is deposited in the new State Clean Water Account;
5 percent is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account; and
44 percent is deposited in the State General Fund.

Between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2015:
45 percent is deposited in the new Storm Water Account;
1.1 percent is deposited in the Oil Spill Prevention Account;
4.5 percent is deposited in the Puget Sound Recovery Account;
4.4 percent is deposited in the new State Clean Water Account;
10 percent is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account; and
35 percent is deposited in the State General Fund.

After June 30, 2015:
70 percent is deposited in the new Storm Water Account;
1 percent is deposited in the Oil Spill Prevention Account;
9.5 percent is deposited in the Puget Sound Recovery Account;
9.5 percent is deposited in the new State Clean Water Account; and
10 percent is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account.

COMMENTS

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not again
when are these stupid democrats going to learn that corporations don't pay taxes if these morons tax the refineries they will just raise the price of gas which hits poor people the hardest . silly me i thought the democrats wanted to help the poor
Randy johanson | Feb 10, 2010 8:23 pm | 0 replies | Request removal

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When does it end?
What happens when they take all my paycheck? Sell Blood? Stop spending. Hans, get a clue be responsible. Dont get another credit card just because you spent everything on the last one. And what happened to the 2/3 TAXPAYER VOTE on tax hikes? You must obay the same laws I do or are you a God and a Democrat?
Chadwick | Feb 10, 2010 5:39 pm | 0 replies | Request removal

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ignoring the voice of the people.
This is not about raising taxes as it is about our represenetives ignoring the vote and voice of the people of Washington.
It does not matter if it is raising taxes, or decreasing taxes - if we had voted to raise taxes, and our leaders decided to decrease them - they are still not representing us.
If we don't have representation, we have no voice. Time for a change
bill ross | Feb 10, 2010 5:38 pm | 0 replies | Request removal

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Flip flop
Two weeks ago I wrote to Hans Dunshee opposing this tax increase. Every resident in Snohomish County is already paying for the intent of this bill through increased Surface Water Management Fees.
Hans Dunshee wrote back saying he would oppose this bill. Imagine my surprise when I found out he is actually one of the co-sponsors.
Write to your state representatives and senators opposing this bill, it is double taxation for our county.
George Schlosser | Feb 9, 2010 8:33 am | 1 replies | Request removal

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Re: Flip flop
I cant believe a politician would talk out of both sides of his mouth!Mr. Dunshee needs to be voted out and someone new given a chance to work for us, the people. A general fund is just a black hole with little or no accountability where the money goes.
Last NorthWesterner | Feb 10, 2010 1:24 pm | Request removal

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