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Lengthy hearing on proposed statewide payroll tax to fund 'Well Washington'
Summary
House Finance heard House Bill 2,100 and a proposed substitute to create a 5% payroll expense tax on wages above the Social Security wage limit for large operating companies, fund the 'Well Washington Fund' for health, housing, higher education and other programs, and include credits for local payroll taxes; testimony was sharply split between labor, social‑service advocates and business groups; no vote was taken.
House Finance devoted the remainder of Thursday’s hearing to House Bill 2,100, a broad proposal to levy a statewide payroll expense tax on large operating companies and deposit a majority of revenues into a new Well Washington Fund for higher education, health care, cash assistance, energy and housing programs.
Committee staff outlined the proposed substitute and administrative details. Tracy Taylor said the tax in the substitute would be "5% of the total annual employee wages that exceed the Social Security wage limit," administered by the Employment Security Department. Under the substitute, a large operating company must employ 250 or more…
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