Could Washington State's High-Tech Tax Breaks Spark a Class War?

Does this debate sound familar?

The push to renew tax breaks for high-tech companies turned into an open-class war this week, with one side pushing the sunny upside of high-tech innovation and the other highlighting the gritty plight of the needy who depend on government services. The incentives -- both aimed at fostering research and development -- are set to expire this year.

Renewing them would cost taxpayers about $74 million dollars between now and July 2005, and about $100 million a year thereafter. Gov. Gary Locke, a Democrat, has endorsed the idea, and the breaks have bipartisan support in the Legislature. But opponents stung by recent deep cuts to state spending on health care, education and social services want the exemptions halted.

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