House Democrats seek alterations of big-business tax breaks

(AP) — A group of House Democrats on Thursday announced measures that would eliminate, narrow or change tax breaks for big businesses in Washington such as the Boeing Co. and banks, saying the state's tax system unfairly favors wealthy corporations.

Robinson's new bill would require Boeing to pay $2,500 to the state's education legacy trust account for each job cut from the state below a baseline of 83,295 in order to claim a preferential business and operation tax rate.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, doesn't support Robinson's proposal in part because the state doesn't need any new taxes to balance the budget, he said in a phone interview Thursday.

Democrats speaking at the news conference would not say whether the package would be included in the House's supplemental budget proposal, released next week.