On the issue of $30 car tabs and the loss of tax money: What if the legislators drafted a bill to legalize poker machines and expand keno in the bars and restaurants in Washington and use that money after administrative costs to do the roads and highway maintenance? Oregon Lottery makes a ton of money on this. This would be a voluntary tax. You don’t have to gamble, but a heck of a lot of people do. The bar owners would make a percentage of money put in. The state would make a lot of money to use on road maintenance. And if you don’t like to gamble, don’t.
Years ago, a measure was on the ballot for this statewide. The people around Puget Sound turned it down. They said there would be too much gambling around the area. Well, we aren’t in Puget Sound. We’re in Clark County and we need the funding for our roads. And don’t think those bleeding heart liberals will say that if you gamble you will go to hell. You might actually have a good time — and get the roads fixed at same time.
