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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Tax Evasion for Dummies

Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Medina), the House Finance Chair who’s playing a big role in the current budget negotiations in Olympia, must be bored, or feeling especially cocky. Here’s his new video taunting would-be tax evaders, “Tax Evasion for Dummies”

The House and Senate budgets assume $13.6 million in new revenue by ending tax avoidance loopholes to address the $2.8 billion shortfall this session.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uAe-mZZyO4&feature=player_embedded#[/youtube]




  • ooga

    I don't see what the problem is . . . perhaps government should quit trying to tax every damn thing and we wouldn't have these problems~! Tell me how taxing commerce is good for the economy??

  • Reagan was wrong

    Or Maybe the right in this country should stop being such whiny cheapskates and accept the fact that it costs money to run our society.

    But that flies in the face of the conservative victim complex that has been so carefully cultivated since that idiot Reagan tottered into our lives and started mouthing the platitudes his handlers gave him.

  • PCO37

    Rep. Ross Hunter proves again why he is THE numbers guy in Olympia. Of course he learned how to do this in Redmond which has accountants as smart as those in Hollywood and Wall Street. Great job Ross!

  • ba

    The problem, ooga, is that people *aren't* paying taxes they *should* be paying for the roads, schools, etc. they benefit from. In other words, they cheat and the rest of us have to foot the bill.

  • Anc

    Stuff like this and cutting down on all the tax exemptions are the silver lining of this whole crisis.

    Streamlining and cutting out loopholes are GOOD for the economy as it removes government created market distortions and creates a more equal playing field for the little guy.

  • SPQR

    This is an example of how “spin” works in the political world. What Rep. Hunter fails to mention is that each of these so-called tax “evasion” strategies have been blessed by the Department of Revenue or by Washington courts as a correct application of Washington tax law. If he wants to foster constructive policy debate on what our laws should be, Rep. Hunter should not fan the fires of rhetoric. This was just a transparent attempt to shove something through the legislature this session by shouting down legitimate discussion. By the way, tax evasion is the unlawful avoidance of a tax. Rep. Hunter should have consulted his dictionary before launching this ad hominem.