Issue Position: Taxes

Issue Position

I believe tax cuts need to go to those who need them most--the working families and small businesses that make up the backbone of our country. That is why I am fighting every day for middle class tax cuts to help working families keep more of their hard-earned money. Every day, I hear from families across Washington state about the need to provide middle class tax relief for working families and that is why I have fought hard for them and other middle class families across Washington state. I have voted for and continue to support targeted tax cuts for the middle class. I have also fought for tax cuts that enable small businesses to expand and to help employers bring on new employees and to invest in new equipment.

Priorities:
* When Washington state taxpayers file their federal income taxes each year, they are at a disadvantage because unlike other states that have income taxes and therefore allow residents to deduct their income tax from their federal income taxes, Washington state families are not given this opportunity to deduct their sales taxes. I have fought year after year to give Washington residents parity by enabling them to deduct the state sales tax on their federal income tax returns, and I will continue to fight to make the state and local sales tax deduction permanent. In 2008, I was proud to help push through legislation that extended the sales tax deduction provision through 2009 and I am currently fighting for Washingtonians to be able to write off sales taxes on their taxes.
* I will continue to fight for tax reform that benefits the middle class, encourages energy efficiency and clean technology investment, and helps promote economic development and the expansion of business opportunities and small business development.
* I believe that tax cuts should be targeted at the middle class who benefit most from the extra money to pay for everyday items like food on the table, gas for your car, and back to school clothes.
* I oppose cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans and paying for those tax cuts by reducing funding for our veterans, or cutting investments in our children.

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