Democrats back off long-term care tax

RITZVILLE — Sen. Mark Schoesler’s efforts to halt implementation of the new long-term care tax on workers in Washington State may be paying off.

For months, Schoesler, R-Ritzville, was trying to upend the tax on workers income to pay for a delayed long-term health care benefit. He even pre-filed Senate Bill 5503 earlier this month calling on the Legislature to step back from the tax and look at alternatives.

“Many workers won’t be able to afford it – people earning an average wage will lose hundreds from their paychecks each year,” Schoesler said. “Too many people would pay the tax, yet never...