Cheney Free Press -

OLYMPIA – As the 2019 Legislative session drew to a close April 28, Democrats controlling state government passed a myriad of new taxes, many without public debate.

As a result, several non-binding advisory voters are on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

While the advisory votes do not carry the force of law, they are offered as a way to tell lawmakers what you think of the taxes imposed this year.

Here are the advisory votes on all ballots mailed out statewide on Oct. 16:

Advisory Vote No. 20; Second Substitute House Bill 1087 — Should the Legislature’s additional wage premium for long-term care be repealed or maintained?

Advisory Vote No. 21; Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1324 — Should the Legislature’s new tax on timber and related products be repealed or maintained? The new tax is projected to collect $21 million in new revenue over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 22; Substitute House Bill 1652 — Should the new sales tax on architectural paint be repealed or maintained? The tax is projected to collect $6 million in new revenue over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 23; Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1873 —Should the new tax on the sale, use, consumption and distribution of vaping products be repealed or maintained? The new tax is projected to collect $178 million over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 24; Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2158 — Should an additional business and occupation tax for certain business activities be repealed or maintained? The new tax is projected to raise $2.253 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 25; Substitute House Bill 2167 — Should a business and occupational tax on specified financial institutions be repealed or maintained? The tax is projected to bring in $1.036 billion over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 26; Substitute Senate Bill 5581 —Should the application of state tax laws be applied to remote sellers, marketplace facilitators and others be repealed or maintained? The measure is projected to generate $1.051 billion over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 27; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5993 — Should new taxes on petroleum products be repealed or maintained? The new tax will raise a projected $2.76 billion over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 28; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5997 — Should the elimination of a non-resident exemption for sales and use taxes be repealed or maintained? Closing the exemption is projected to raise $313 million in the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 29; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5998 — Should the new real estate excise tax be repealed or maintained? The tax is projected to bring in $1.747 billion in the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 30; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6004 — Should a new tax on travel agents and tour operators be repealed or maintained? The new tax is projected to bring in $28 million over the next 10 years.

Advisory Vote No. 31; Engrossed Senate Bill 6016 — Should a new tax on investment management services be repealed or maintained? The new tax is projected to bring in $367 million over the next 10 years.