Hazardous Substance Tax Proposal Would Ease Recession’s Impact on State Budget

"Legislators are currently considering a range of revenue enhancements needed to preserve education, environmental protection, and vital supports for working families.  As part of her recent revenue proposal, Governor Gregoire called for increasing the Hazardous Substance Tax – a tax on levied on petroleum products, pesticides and other toxic substances.  This option has been endorsed by members of the State House and Senate as well. In the long run, increasing the Hazardous Substance Tax would help fund efforts to clean up rivers, streams, and other water ways that are contaminated by toxics.  And in the midst of the current recession, doing so would help preserve core public services that are essential to our economic recovery...."