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OLYMPIA — Prices of bottled water, soda pop and candy could climb this summer to help lift the state out of its deep budget hole.

Cigarettes and gasoline could be more costly, too, if a collection of new and higher taxes proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday finds its way into law.

Click here to read original article: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100218/NEWS01/702189905&news01ad=1

One of the ideas of Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire is to tax bottled water. The bottled water tax is being called a sin tax, and her argument is that because nobody “needs” it, bottled water should be taxed. The proposed tax would be 1 cent per ounce, which she claims will make the state $134 million in additional taxes.

Click here to read original article: http://www.examiner.com/x-7460-Spokane-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m2d18-Washington-Governor-Christine-Gregoire-wants-to-tax-bottled-water

Higher taxes on things like bottled water, pop, cigarettes and candy are part of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to raise more than $600 million to help avoid large cuts to education and social services.

Gregoire’s plan, which also includes closing some tax loopholes, was released Wednesday.

Click here to read original article: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/194909.asp?from=blog_last3

Harbor Pacific Bottling, Inc., which my father started in 1957, is home to 45 hard-working employees, including many who have been with the company for decades. If the governor’s proposed excise tax on soda pop and bottled water is made into law, I may be forced to eliminate some of those good-paying jobs or potentially sell our business entirely.

Click here to read original article: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100227/OPINION03/702279987

Corwin Beverage Company, which our family started in 1941, is home to 115 hard-working employees, many of whom have been with the company for decades. Starting with five trucks and four products, our great-grandparents faced a lot of uncertainly to grow the business and make it strong. I’m proud to say we have never laid off a single employee in the company’s history, despite the difficult economy and the fact our sales are down as a result. We’ve made tough decisions to ensure employees have kept their jobs and benefits.

Click here to read original article: http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/feb/28/suspension-of-i-960-is-outrageous/

Gov. Christine Gregoire isn’t hearing much support these days from Bellevue for the tax on soda and bottled water she proposed to help close the state budget deficit.

That’s because the district is home to a “hulking big bottling plant,” to borrow a phrase used by Rep. Ross Hunter, of Medina.

Click here to read original article: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/news/85612402.html

SEATTLE – Washington state’s beverage industry claims its being unfairly singled out by the proposed 1-cent-per-ounce tax on carbonated drinks and bottled water.

And now industry insiders are warning such an excise tax could cost local jobs because the tax would be passed on to consumers, reducing sales.

Click here to read original article: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/85597842.html

Some left-leaning think tanks contend that tax increases will have the happy effect of stimulating economic growth. Oregonians may just have made their case for them. The Beaver State’s recent vote to boost taxes on business and the wealthy may well deliver a much-needed jolt – to the Idaho economy.

Read the full article here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/25/1085566/washingtons-budget-plan-could.html

The decision has been made to raise taxes as part of the solution to the state’s $2.8 billion budget shortfall. All that remains for majority Democrats to debate is which taxes to hike, and by how much.

Click here to read the full article: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100225/OPINION01/702259967