State Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, said he plans to introduce introduced a bill tomorrow today that would ask voters to temporarily increase the state sales tax by three-tenths of a penny to backfill cuts to health care in the state budget.

The tax increase would raise $500 million to $600 million over two years, Pettigrew said. The money would be used to help pay for the "Basic Health Plan, nursing homes, adult day health, public health and health services in general," he said.

The proposal calls for the tax to remain in place from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2012.

The bill also would include a so-called working family tax credit, he said, which is a requirement that some of tax revenue pay for tax credits for the working poor.

Pettigrew said House leadership backs the bill. But he's not sure yet if there are enough votes to get it out of the House.

UPDATE

House Bill 2377 was introduced this evening.

UPDATE UPDATE

You'll find full coverage here. A hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Friday in the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee.