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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><img width="133" height="135" style="width:1.3854in;height:1.4062in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D81446.DB708400"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;letter-spacing:1.2pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;letter-spacing:1.2pt">OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;letter-spacing:1.2pt">OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL LAWRENCE WASDEN<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;letter-spacing:1.2pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;letter-spacing:1.2pt">NEWS RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">January 28, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<a name="_Hlk94179360"><b><u><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Little and Wasden applaud delay of Washington’s plan to unfairly tax Idahoans<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="color:black">(Boise) – Idaho Governor Brad Little and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden are applauding a development in the Washington legislature this week as a positive
for Idahoans affected by a planned payroll tax in Washington. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="color:black">The Washington Legislature just
</span></span><a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-legislature-washington-jay-inslee-190aa481434ef03c9503998ca5ce0f31"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360">approved a delay of the implementation of a payroll tax</span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="color:black">
that would have unfairly taxed Idahoans working in the State of Washington for a benefit they could not receive.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="color:black">The delay comes after the Governor’s Office, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, and the Idaho Department of Insurance advocated for North Idaho citizens
working in Washington.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“We heard from citizens in North Idaho about Washington’s ill-advised plans to unfairly tax Idahoans. We responded and engaged
with our counterparts in the State of Washington, and the delay of the state’s program is a positive outcome. We will keep the pressure on Washington to back off its misguided plan and resolve these issues the correct way,” Governor Little said.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">“The state of Washington’s ability to tax its citizens and spend that money as its leaders see fit is not normally
Idaho’s business,” Wasden said. “But I’m concerned with Washington taxing Idahoans to specifically pay for programs that will never benefit those Idahoans. The delay is welcome news and I’m hopeful Washington lawmakers will be able to fix the problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk94179360"><span style="color:black">The tax would pay for implementation of a long-term care program for Washington residents. The Idaho leaders’ concerns stem from the fact Idahoans who work
in Washington would have to pay the tax without being eligible for the related program. Legal concerns prompted Wasden to write Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in November and ask that the state
</span></span><span style="color:black">not implement the tax against Idaho residents.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="color:black">The Governor’s Office and Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron contacted Washington officials to share similar concerns.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Legislation delaying the program passed both chambers of the Washington legislature by a combined vote of 137-9. It is expected
to be signed by Governor Jay Inslee today. The delay would take effect immediately. Washington had planned to begin collecting the tax this month.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Wasden’s letter to Ferguson is
<a href="https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wasden-wa-ag-ferguson.pdf">
available here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">MEDIA CONTACTS:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Scott Graf, Office of the Attorney General, 208-334-4112 or
</span><a href="mailto:Scott.Graf@ag.idaho.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Scott.Graf@ag.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Marissa Morrison Hyer, Office of the Governor, 208-943-1686 or
</span><a href="mailto:Marissa.Morrison@gov.idaho.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Marissa.Morrison@gov.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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