Whether you call it raising taxes or closing loopholes, the idea of targeting businesses or individuals who get special tax treatment has been pushed by protesters, unions and many Democratic lawmakers, but legislative leaders have wanted to focus on the budgets full of spending cuts.
Voters last November required two-thirds supermajorities of the Legislature to raise taxes. Today at 2 p.m., the Senate Ways and Means Committee considers Sen. Ed Murray's proposal, SB 5944, to ask voters whether they want to change their minds and allow a simple majority vote for closing tax breaks.
The committee also considers closing some tax breaks more immediately in the form of SB 5945 and SB 5947.
