Lawmakers Push Bill Help Dam Workers Taxed By Two States

The Washington congressional delegation is backing a bill to ensure that workers on Columbia and Snake river dams do not have to pay both Oregon income taxes and Washington state taxes.

“This is a clear case of double taxation,” Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said Thursday in introducing the bill.

Roger Hays of Kennewick is one of about 140 workers at Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and McNary dams affected by the taxation quirk.

Hays works at McNary Dam on the Washington-Oregon border. He parks on the Washington side and walks across the structure.

Once he crosses an orange line painted on top of the dam, he starts paying Oregon income tax.

The electrician can cross the line a dozen times a day, clocking in and out of the Oregon income tax system, while keeping track of his tax exposure in a notebook.

A bill during Congress’ last session to free dam workers from Oregon taxes failed.