Delay announcement does not stop prints — Getty Images
Hold the phone.
Despite announcements by Governor Inslee (and others) that the state’s proposed long-term care tax plan is so flawed that it will have to be postponed, the news now comes that nothing has been done to actually stop the withdrawal.
ACCORDING TO THE GOP LEADER, THE LAW MUST ACT
MyNorthest.com reported Wednesday (December 22) that workers could still see deductions for tax in January if lawmakers don’t step in and make changes to the plan.
Senate Republican leaders John Braun and JT Wilcox said in a press release on Wednesday:
“The governor’s announcement last week that Washington Cares’ long-term care tax would be postponed led everyone to believe that the tax would not be deducted from their paychecks in January. A notice was given to civil servants stating that only those who have already been granted an exemption from the program will not be able to withhold tax. Otherwise, the tax will be collected as originally planned. How does this delay come about? How did the governor help? He does not have. The governor’s announcement did not change anything. The only thing it did was publicly acknowledge that the program was a mess. “
The GOP leaders said the only remedy is for lawmakers to hold a special session even during the holidays and make the changes necessary to prevent workers from abolishing this tax. Braun and Wilcox said even if it’s done virtually, it has to happen.
Braun and Wilcox added:
“The program is so unpopular that more than 400,000 Washingtoners have applied for an exemption and thousands of others want to get out, but won’t get a private policy before the deadline. Why? . “
Inslee’s office says it has no authority to make the plan changes, instead reportedly instructing the Department of Occupational Safety and Health to “Don’t accept quarterly payments from all employers to give lawmakers time to work on changes to the program.”
The GOP legislators hope to be able to completely repeal the WA Cares Fund in the coming legislative period.