The sales tax deduction, which allows  Washington tax payers to deduct the state sales tax on federal income tax, is a political hot potato every election year as one side of the aisle includes an extension of the temporary tax fix for the seven states that don't have a state income in a larger bill with stuff the other side doesn't like. (Then they do a press release saying their opponent voted against the sales tax deduction).

Sen. Cantwell is getting out ahead of the 2012 game.

The PI has an AP story that U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell is proposing to make the sales tax deduction permanent.