Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi came out swinging against Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire during a visit to Kennewick on Wednesday, just as new poll results show a close race.
A new poll by Rasmussen Reports showed Gregoire leading Rossi 50 percent to 43 percent, shrinking her 11 point lead in a previous survey by Rasmussen.
In addition, a new poll by Survey USA conducted for Portland and Seattle TV stations showed Gregoire leading Rossi 50 percent to 47 percent with a 4 percent margin of error.
At the Pasco-Kennewick Rotary Club meeting, Rossi accused the governor of blowing through the biggest surplus the state has ever had and turning it into what he predicts will be a $2.5 billion deficit despite revenue growth.
The state's spending growth rate now is bigger than its revenue growth, he said.
"You know she's going to raise taxes," he said, adding that the governor favors a state income tax.
In contrast, as the chairman of the state Senate Ways and Means Committee, he balanced the largest deficit in state history without raising taxes, he said. At the same time, he provided help for the state's most vulnerable residents, he said.
But that's not how the governor remembers Rossi's leadership.
"Dino Rossi's record does not match his rhetoric," said Aaron Toso, Gregoire's campaign press secretary, after the Rotary meeting.
Gregoire took office with a $2.2 billion deficit left by Rossi, Toso said. During her years as governor, that turned into a surplus and Gregoire established a constitutionally protected "rainy day" fund, he said.
Rossi did raise taxes, Toso said, pointing out he raised bed taxes at nursing homes, which Toso called a tax on senior citizens. Rossi also cut health care for children, Toso said.
Gregoire has not advocated for an income tax, but has acknowledged that the state has a regressive tax structure, Toso said. That's one of the reasons she called a special legislative session to cap property taxes at 1 percent, he said.
Rossi told Rotarians he wants to turn Washington into a good place to be an entrepreneur. He favors eliminating the estate tax and would name new leaders to agencies such as the departments of Labor and Industry and Ecology, he said.
He also favors using half of the sales tax on new and used cars to solve transportation problems that threaten to harm the state's economy, he said.
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