PORT ANGELES — Whether the state should institute an income tax highlighted a televised debate between state Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, and his Democratic challenger, Bill Thomas.
The two men faced off Tuesday night on Northland Cable TV’s Channel 3. The debate was sponsored by Peninsula News Network and Peninsula Daily News.
Candidate debates sponsored by the two news organizations continue Wednesday on Channel 3 beginning at 7 p.m.
Buck, R-Joyce, favors revenue enhancements, such as legalizing slot machine gambling off tribal reservations over instituting an income tax.
Buck said voters should look elsewhere if they want someone who’ll support a state income tax.
Thomas, former mayor of Sequim and a Democrat who now lives in the Port Angeles area, expressed support of an income tax as a way of helping to rectify the state’s $2 billion budget shortfall.
However, Thomas said he would only support an income tax if sales tax and business and occupation taxes are removed.
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The rest of the story appears in the Wednesday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.
