Brian Wells looks on as the senator speaks at Tougo (Image: CDN/CHS)

Patty Murray’s visit to 18th Ave’s Tougo Coffee to discuss legislation to level the playing field on tax-dodging gazillionaires has a back-story the senator probably had no idea was prologue to her Wednesday morning appearance.

“I don’t ever want to put it behind me because it’s something to keep me motivated to keep working harder, to keep working smarter,” Brian Wells said following the press conference inside his coffee shop. In early 2011, Central District News reported on a $10,000 City of Seattle tax hole the 18th and Union coffee shop had fallen into. With donations — and a friendly payment schedule — Tougo is back on its feet. Wells said Murray’s visit to his shop brought the struggles he has had running a small business back into focus as he says Tougo is continuing to make progress as a community hub in the neighborhood.

“It feels full circle because we’re still struggling with some of the issues we had with our taxes,” he said. “We’re on a really good schedule to get that paid off but it’s not that far away.”

“Tax day is just a few days away and families across our state are putting the final touches on their tax returns and getting ready to send them in,” Murray said during her time at the microphone inside the busy coffee shop. “And under current law the wealthiest Americans are able to work with their accountants to find and exploit every loophole in the book to bring down their rates and reduce what they owe.”

The proposed Buffett Rule, named for tax-friendly super rich guy Warren Buffett, sets a minimum tax rate of 30% for individuals earning more than $1 million. It also sets up a robust political battle.

“The wealthiest Americans should be playing by the same set of rules as every other American family,” Murray said.

More on the conference and more pictures from the cafe at our partner site, Central District News.