OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s Senate Democrats want a new tax on beer to help solve the state’s budget deficit.
That’s the highlight of a new tax proposal from the Senate, which has been negotiating a possible state tax package with the state House and Gov. Chris Gregoire.
The newest Senate idea would add a tax of 50 cents per gallon on mass-market beers. Senate Democrats also want to extend the sales tax to candy, gum and bottled water, and raise the state sales tax by one-tenth of a penny.
That would raise about $200 million — the final disputed piece of a roughly $800 million tax package that Democratic leaders want to help patch the state budget.
Lawmakers are running out of time in their 30-day special session to bridge a $2.8 billion budget deficit through June 2011.