Looking to lead and listen

Local legislator explains last week's turnabout on sales tax exemptions

BY DEB WALLACE State Representative (D-Vancouver)

This is the toughest economy I have seen in my lifetime. Washington families and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet. Our state budget is in crisis and the federal deficit continues to skyrocket.

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In this very difficult time, we need to focus on core priorities that create jobs, provide our children with a world-class education, strengthen small businesses and protect our families and communities. We need to do this without increasing the burden on hard-pressed taxpayers and small businesses.

As a state representative, it is my duty to develop ideas, offer them for discussion and then listen to what people think - to lead, listen and then focus on the right priorities for our community.

One idea I raised recently to generate revenue for education, public safety and health care was to apply the existing sales tax, which all of us who live in Washington state already pay, to people from out-of-state who buy our products and services. 

However, as I talked with and listened to people and business owners around Southwest Washington, the consensus became apparent that while they supported efforts to preserve essential community services, they believed removing the sales tax exemption was not the best way to do it.

I sought out more opinions of small business people and their employees around our area. And many of them said the same thing: "I worry this could hurt my business."

That is unacceptable.

As a person with a strong small business background, I know how hard it is to keep a business afloat and keep customers happy. I also know that small businesses are the engine of our local economy and key to our economic recovery.

I listened to the taxpayers of my district and heard them loud and clear. They know that we need to support education and transportation and keep the burden off our working families. But they and I both know that we cannot put that responsibility on our already struggling small businesses.

After hearing from local owners and employees, I decided to withdraw this proposal. I believe that, working together, we can find better alternatives to our budget crisis that do not put more of the burden on small business owners and their employees during these tough economic times.

In the legislature, I will continue to work with colleagues from both parties to find solutions to these problems and focus on our shared priorities: improving education, transportation, healthcare and creating more good-paying jobs in our community.

I am confident we can do this without asking families and small businesses to pay more than they already are.

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