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State house approves tax package

March 9th, 2010 - 2:29am

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The state House has approved a tax package that raises roughly $680 million to help balance the state budget.

The House approved the tax package on a 52-45 vote early Tuesday morning.

The plan does not include a general sales tax. But it does expand the sales tax to bottled water, candy and gum, elective cosmetic surgery and custom software.

The House also wants to shrink a long list of tax exemptions, and increase taxes on cigarettes and services, such as lawyers and accountants.

The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on Thursday, but Gov. Chris Gregoire could be forced to call a special session if lawmakers can't reach a budget deal in time.

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