That is not competition. That is a joke. You know it and I know it.

It is time for it to be permanent, but here we are again.

More than 800,000 Washingtonians alone would be subject to this unequal treatment if the deduction is not extended.

Certainly, it is a critical component of our Tax Code, and making this hearing on expiring tax provisions is really in my view long overdue because businesses want to know what is going on, and a lot of people want to know.

This provision brings tax equity to taxpayers living in states with no income tax.

This provision provides critical tax relief to struggling homeowners that are lucky enough to get their lender to agree to principal reduction.

The problems that States have had has not been because they increased benefits, but because they reduced the rate that they were charging employers.

Which is $8,000.

I think that is probably the most important thing.

Seven thousand dollars. It is practically nothing.

In terms of benefit levels, Washington is a little bit more generous.