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Letter: Loopholes difficult to close

The Columbian
Published: April 20, 2011, 12:00am

Current federal budget debates include arguments about tax breaks (loopholes?) — everything from the shifting of profits to an overseas subsidiary (Google) to deductions for breast augmentation (a stripper) to the almost sacred deduction of mortgage interest (all homeowners).

At the state level, arguments over tax breaks target those for software providers (annual cost: $143 million); airplane manufacturers ($104 million); banks that issue first-time mortgages ($100 million); cosmetic surgery ($6.25 million), etc.

Each of these has constituencies, of course. Ironically enough, in Washington state, their most effective protector has been Tim Eyman, the foe of any and all taxes. Eliminating a tax break would, effectively, raise taxes on someone else. The Eyman-backed (and voter-approved) initiative that requires a two-thirds vote by the Legislature on tax increases is impossible to get on anything— even closing tax loopholes.

The explanation at the federal level is more complicated, but a solution satisfactory to even a bare majority is not simple at any level.

George Cheek

Camas

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