OLYMPIA… The state Senate moved into the final day of the 2019 legislative session with majority Democrats extending their streak of overnight tax votes, the worst of which would slap a 20-percent rate increase on some 40 industries and categories of professional-service providers. That bill was passed at approximately 5 a.m. today.

“The majority says this new tax, which would pull close to a billion dollars out of the economy in just four years, is critical for supporting higher education. But the truth is, higher taxes on these industries and employers are no more necessary than the higher taxes on fuel and real-estate transactions and other things that were approved Thursday night and Friday night,” said Braun, R-Centralia.

“It’s unbelievable that all of these tax increases are coming at a time when state government is already taking in a record amount of tax revenue,” he explained, “and that our colleges and universities need to pin their hopes for funding on a new tax bill, much less this one. It’s so badly designed that even the state revenue department is predicting difficulty with collection.

Braun, who led the development of the Senate budget two years ago and remains budget leader for Senate Republicans, said he’s struck by how the tax votes are happening only after dark.

“That’s when news reporters are less likely to be present, and fewer people are likely to be viewing via the TVW network, which makes it simpler for legislators to avoid the attention of our state’s taxpayers.”