Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brian Baird today criticized the Congress for failing to bring sales tax deductibility up for a fair up-or-down vote in either the House or Senate before both bodies recessed for a six-week election-year campaign break early this morning. 

“There is no reason this Congress needed to leave town today.  We could have, and we should have, stayed here to do our jobs and finish the people’s business,” said Congressman Baird.  “Instead of hitting the campaign trail, we should be staying here to pass legislation that would help millions of hardworking taxpayers in Washington and across the country.  Time and again this Congress puts special interest and personal gain above what’s best for the American people.  I find that shameful and reprehensible.”  

Congressman Baird and his Senate colleagues, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, vigorously pushed their respective legislative chambers to pass the state sales tax extension by the end of this week and deliver millions of Americans the tax fairness they deserve.  The IRS has said it needs tax changes by October 15 in order to print and deliver tax forms for the 2006 tax year. 

“The millions of hardworking families in our state and across this country should be able to count on being treated fairly at tax time every year,” said Congressman Baird.  “Last year alone, Washingtonians saved hundreds of millions of dollars from the sales tax deduction.  That was money that went towards college tuition funds, home improvement projects, and the purchase of family cars, and it was money that was pumped back into our local economy.”  

Congressman Baird led a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who urged the House and Senate leadership to take up the sales tax deduction this week.  He has vowed to continue fighting to pass an extension of the sales tax deduction when Congress reconvenes for a lame duck session on November 13.  Congressman Baird and Senator Cantwell have also introduced stand-alone legislation that would make the sales tax deduction a permanent feature of the U.S. tax code. 

In most states, taxpayers can deduct state income taxes from their total federally taxable income.  From 1986 until 2004, residents of states that substitute a higher sales tax for state income taxes went without a deduction for sales taxes.  In 2004, Congressman Baird and Senator Cantwell worked with a bipartisan coalition of Senators and Representatives to pass a two-year sales tax deduction into law.  The lawmakers have fought continuously since then to extend the deduction and make it permanent. 

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