Democrats encouraging Inslee to veto business tax break bill.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A group of 23 House Democrats is encouraging Governor Jay Inslee to veto a bill that would provide tax breaks for manufacturing companies.
Read the Democrats’ letter to Governor Insee (pdf) "I think the biggest concern I have, and I’ve heard from a lot of my colleagues, is that this tax cut received very little scrutiny in the legislative process.
Lawmakers and the public had less than a day to review the negotiated budget agreement.
"There’s no requirement that these manufacturers keep jobs in the state.
"If we’re going to be giving a more than 50 percent tax cut to certain businesses, I think we should make sure the public is getting some accountability that there will be jobs kept in this state and less pollution, and that wasn’t in this proposal."
But he added, "The concerns are legitimate about the process of this just taking place in the dark of night, with a lack of transparency.
I understand that."
Senator John Braun, R-Lewis County, the lead budget negotiator for the Republicans, said it’s "disappointing and disturbing" if the governor even considers a veto.
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce also supports the tax breaks for manufacturers, saying they have the potential to help more than 10,000 companies throughout the state and support economic prosperity.