Gregoire Statement on President Bush�s Economic Stimulus Proposal

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire makes the following statement about President George Bush�s proposed economic stimulus package:

�I�m receptive to the economic stimulus package proposed by President Bush today that provides relief to Washington taxpayers. Given the steps we have taken in our state to spend wisely and save for the future, Washington's resilient economy is well positioned to bear the brunt of a national economic downturn.

�I want to make sure any federal economic stimulus package helps our working families and is temporary in nature so it minimizes the impact to our national debt. However, one thing I would like to see made permanent is the deductibility of our sales tax against federal income tax. Washingtonians shouldn�t be paying more federal income tax than residents of states with income taxes that they have been able to deduct for years. This inequity has been addressed on a stopgap basis for the last several years, and it is high time to make it permanent.�

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