When is a tax increase NOT a tax increase?

When you’re the new Governor of Washington State.

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee pivoted Thursday on his campaign pledge not to increase taxes, saying that extending existing taxes due to expire next year would not break his promise.

Inslee said during his first news conference as governor that he’s open to extending a business and occupation tax and a beer tax, which could raise hundreds of millions of dollars over the next two years.

He also discussed possible legislation dealing with gun violence.

While running against GOP candidate Rob McKenna last year, Inslee said, “I would veto anything that heads the wrong direction and the wrong direction is new taxes in the state of Washington.”

The key word in that promise is “new.”

Referring to a possible extension, Inslee said, “these do not increase taxes. They do not raise taxes on people over the existing level being paid today. Since they do not increase taxes, they are not a tax increase.”

Must be nice being able to redefine words and all. If you know of someone who voted for this idiot, let them know he works from a different dictionary that the rest of us and then laugh at them. Hopefully, at least a few Inslee voters will get bitten in the ass by this. Also hopefully, a few of them will learn their lesson.