Up Front AM: No rush of support for Governor’s tax plan

First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.

Reaction to Governor’s sales tax increase:  Mixed response to Governor Christine Gregoire’s call for a temporary half-percent sales tax increase.  Senate Democrats Lisa Brown and Ed Murray didn’t rush to endorse the idea saying only that they will “go through alternatives this fall, and now we will add the governor’s proposals to our discussions.”

Outside the governor’s office, a small group protested the proposed budget cuts to social services and education.  Even among this group, there was a luke-warm reception to a sales tax hike, with some expressing skepticism about whether it would truly save their programs.

Republicans called it the wrong time to raise taxes.   Don Brunnell, with the Association of Washington Businesses, sent out a statement saying “We don’t envy the governor or the legislature…”

Gregoire acknowledged the tough sell ahead, saying legislators will need time to “digest” what she has proposed.

Gregoire promised to take her case to voters, saying, “if the legislature will stand with me, I will hit the road. I will go meet with the people of Washington state.”

Budget Passed:  The Seattle City Council approved a budget yesterday. The Seattle Times Lynn Thompson reports the budget lays off 75 city employees and leaves 84 positions unfilled. The city faced a 25 million dollar deficit and cuts closed the gap. Thompson reports that Mayor McGinn praised the council’s budget.

Romney ahead: Mitt Romney is ahead in New Hampshire according to the latest Suffolk University poll.  No surprise there. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are in a battle for second place. Here’s an excerpt from the poll’s summary:

“Romney (41 percent) and Ron Paul (14 percent) maintained the same levels of support they had in the Suffolk University poll conducted in September, while Newt Gingrich jumped from 4 percent to 14 percent.  All other candidates were in single digits, including Jon Huntsman (9 percent), Herman Cain (8 percent), Rick Santorum (3 percent), Rick Perry (2 percent) and Michele Bachmann (1 percent).”