An introduction to the WA state budget: We need more scrutiny of tax breaks

Excerpted from Washington State Budget 101:

While the legislature deals with budget gaps by cutting public schools, home health care for vulnerable seniors, preschool for low-income kids, and access to college, 100s of tax breaks for profitable corporations go unexamined. Not all tax breaks are bad, but when basic services are on the chopping block, tax breaks need to be prioritized.

Ending out of date and low priority tax breaks both addresses the current revenue shortfall caused by the recession and, once the economy recovers, can help fund educational and other improvements to keep our people and state healthy and competitive.