Before adjourning today, the Senate let the House know it was not down with the amendments the House tacked onto the revenue bill—the most notable being the elimination of the .2 percent sales tax increase, which the Senate favors.
Other points of contention with the House plan: The Senate does not want to end a now (after the House let small banks keep the exemption) $50 million exemption for big banks on mortgage loan interest; the Senate does not want to end the $41.5 million of sales tax exemption on out state shoppers; and the Senate doesn’t want to end $76.5 million exemption on custom software.
(The House did relent on allowing a $30 million exemption on Gum & Candy, which they had wanted to end. Plus they’re keeping a $7.2 million cosmetic surgery exemption in place, which they also wanted to end. Maybe House Finance Chair Rep. Ross Hunter found Erica’s feminist argument persuasive. Or maybe it’s that the House compromise revenue plan was written by Gov. Chris Gregoire, a woman.)
The Senate has requested a “conference” on the revenue package, meaning they want closed-door meetings between key revenue players in the Senate and House—like Democratic Sens. Margarita Prentice (D-11), Ed Murray (D-43), and Republican Joseph Zarelli (R-18) and Reps. Ross Hunter (D-48) and Kelli Linville (D-42)—to reach a compromise. The conference has not set time limit and Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Medina) said it will take as long as it needs to.
“But there’s no value in hanging around here longer,” he said. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll collect revenue, from whatever revenue sources we agree upon.”
That compromise would then receive an up or down vote in each chamber with no opportunity for any member—Democrat or Republican—to offer amendments.
This says, Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-44), is to assure expediency once conference negotiators agree on something and Republicans from filibustering final passage of the bill.
