Legislation to help support the news media by exempting them from the state business and occupation (B&O) tax passed the Washington State Senate today on a 47-1 vote. SB 5199, sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah), is intended to support local news outlets that have come upon tough economic times. “I've seen local newspapers and media in my district struggle over the past decade, and too many have already had to shut down,” Mullet said. “Local journalists play an essential role to inform the public, hold politicians and government accountable, and make our communities stronger. That role is particularly important at the local level, where incredibly important decisions are made that CNN or Fox News will never cover. We need ...
Read MoreAbout Mark
First elected to the Senate in 2012, Mark is currently the Vice Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, where he also serves as the leader of the Senate’s capital budget team. The capital budget makes infrastructure investments across Washington, funding affordable housing, school construction, health care facilities, environmental projects, and much more, while creating tens of thousands of jobs. Mark also serves on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee.
Read Mark’s full biography here.