Washington state house votes to bailout newspapers

(AP) OLYMPIA, Wash. "With one of the state's largest daily newspapers seemingly on the brink of printing its last edition and others furiously cutting costs, the

• state House has approved a temporary tax break for newspapers....

• The House endorsed the bill Tuesday night by a vote of 91-5. It now moves on for consideration by the state Senate.

The bill would give newspapers and businesses that print newspapers a 40 percent cut in their state business tax through 2015....

• The House vote came on the same day that Hearst Corp.'s deadline for finding a buyer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer apparently passed. The P-I, the state's oldest newspaper, could announce within days whether to close or continue as an online-only publication with a greatly reduced staff....

Among the bill's few opponents were lawmakers who said the state should give tax breaks to even more industries around the state amid the lingering recession. Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Carrolls, said he found it

• ironic that newspaper editorials in his area have encouraged voters to support increased tax levies,

• but might now get their own special tax break.

Orcutt also questioned why newspapers aren't charging for online content as readers and advertisers migrate to online sources.

• "I don't think passage of this bill is going to be the difference between maintaining our democracy and losing it," Orcutt said. "Really, it won't.""

• ...from Editor & Publisher, via Free Republic

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