Statement from Governor Gregoire Regarding Business Activity Tax

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2006

�I am very pleased that the House of Representatives pulled the Business Activity Tax legislation from the floor today. This bill would have unfairly impacted Washington businesses and cost the state an estimated $689 million annually in tax revenues. This is equal to what we spend on all five of our four-year universities.

�Washington�s congressional delegation was united in their opposition to this unfair bill. I am especially grateful to U.S. Representative Dicks, U.S. Representative McDermott and U.S. Representative Hastings for their work opposing this bill. They urged their colleagues to look at the potential loss to their own states.

�I�d also like to thank my colleagues in the National Governors Association. My fellow Governors across the country saw the potential for similar problems in their own states and reached out to their congressional delegations to ask them to oppose this prohibitive legislation.

�Although the final vote in this legislation was postponed, the issue may come up again. I know that Washington�s delegation will continue to fight to ensure that our state is treated fairly.�

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