Fortunato Seeks More Truth In Gov't With New Senate Bill

OLYMPIA, WA - Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) wants to rename the Washington State Department of Revenue to better reflect what he says the agency actually does: collect taxes. So, last Friday Fortunato introduced a new bill that seeks to change the agency to the Department of Taxation.

Co-sponsored by fellow Republican Sens. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville), Ann Rivers (R-La Center), Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley), and Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro-Woolley), Senate Bill 5925 is a 500-plus page initiative that if approved would amend the language for dozens of permanent lawsin Washington and require new materials to refer to the agency by its new title "when needed."

"I think we need more truth in government," Fortunato said in a statement. "I sponsored this legislation to make it clearer to people what our state agency does."

The Department of Revenue's mission statement defines its agency objective as follows:

To fairly and efficiently collect revenues and administer programs to fund public services and advocate sound tax policy.

Fortunato says that statement doesn't accurately describe the agency's actual job.

"The reality is that this state agency doesn’t generate revenue," he explained. "Revenue is what businesses and people generate from the sale of goods and services. This is a tax collection agency and their name should reflect that."

The bill's first reading was Feb. 15. Afterward, it was referred to State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections.

To follow this bill, click here.

Top image caption: Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, speaks Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, on the Senate floor in Olympia, Wash., during discussion of revisions to Initiative 940, the measure voters passed in November 2018 to make it easier to prosecute law enforcement officers for negligent shootings. The Senate unanimously approved the revisions. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)