2011年5月5日 星期四

Wash. Senator Seeks End To Tax Breaks For Bull Semen, Chicken Bedding

 Lawmakers meeting in special session in Olympia took up the issue of tax breaks for big banks, chicken farmers and cattle breeders Wednesday. Some Democrats want to end those exemptions to avoid deeper budget cuts. But it would take a two-thirds vote.

Who knew? Washington provides a sales tax exemption for chicken bedding and bull semen used for artificial insemination.

Democratic Senator Tracey Eide wants to end these agricultural tax breaks. She says they amount to putting livestock ahead of kids.

Tracey Eide: "It's not time for us to continue to give away the farm. We have to start letting nature take its course."

Another proposal from Democrats would sunset a tax break multi-state banks get on first mortgages.
But without Republican support Democrats can't muster the two-thirds requirement to repeal these so-called tax preferences.

Now, Senate budget chair Ed Murray wants to put the question to Washington voters this fall: should ending tax breaks take the same super-majority threshold required to raise taxes?

That drew a sharp rebuke from anti-tax activist Tim Eyman.

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