Taxation without representation across the Columbia

Thousands of southern Washington residents cross over the Columbia River to Oregon for work and tax-free shopping. Yet those Washington residents are forced to pay an Oregon income tax, which makes sense insofar as they made the income in Oregon, but smacks of taxation without representation insofar as they are not permitted to vote in Oregon.

U.S. Rep. Brian Baird and Sen. Maria Cantwell have tried in the past to prevent this extortion, but their efforts were quickly stymied. In 2005, Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski called their plan an infringement on states rights.

Access to consumer goods free from sales taxes is a bit of a boon to river-crossing Washingtonians, but Governor Gregoire has cracked down on those who try to avoid the MVET by keeping their cars registered in Oregon, so the sales tax savings are relegated to IKEA purchases and other, smaller, accessories.

The only recent idea to balance out this subsidy of our southern neighbors came from Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart, who wants to refund tolls on the new, as-yet-to-be-built, Columbia River bridge.

So, while Oregon takes millions of dollars in income taxes from Washingtonians, we'll get them back - $5 at a time.