WA Supreme Court rules “Necessity Clause” shields new income tax law from voter referendum
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD & JAKE GOLDSTEN-STREET]—Washington’s Supreme Court on Monday, May 4, denied Let’s Go Washington’s, a conservative political committee, request to pursue an attempt to repeal the state’s new income tax law with a referendum this fall. The opposition can still move forward with an initiative to overturn the tax on millionaire earners. But […]
‘Legal Dream Team’ file lawsuit challenging Washington state income tax
OLYMPIA—The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF), former Attorney General Rob McKenna, and former Supreme Court Justice and State Senator Phil Talmadge officially filed a lawsuit against the state of Washington, the Department of Revenue and Acting Director John Ryser challenging the newly enacted income tax on Thursday, April 9. The suit filed in Klickitat County […]
Ferguson signs new income tax bill, lawsuit and referendum challenges begin
OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6346 into law March 30, enacting a 9.9% income tax on annual income above $1 million as the Citizen Action Defense Fund announced a legal challenge and Let’s Go Washington also announcing it is launching a referendum to repeal the measure. The bill passed the full Senate […]
As Washington gets an income tax, the fight to overturn it begins
[OLYMPIA | JERRY CORNFIELD]—Come Monday, Washington is expected to have a state income tax on the books for the first time in nearly a century. Then what? A legal challenge certainly, maybe two. A ballot battle as well, its timing less certain. Opponents of the much-debated 9.9% tax on households with incomes above $1 million a […]
High-value WA home listings increase by 65% after passage of income tax
[The Center Square] — The number of high-priced homes listed for sale in Washington state that cost $2 million or more increased significantly the day after the state legislature passed an income tax on millionaires, according to data The Center Square obtained from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. While the numbers of homes overall were […]
John Braun commentary: No matter what income tax backers say, there’s no free lunch
Washington State Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, speaks at a Let’s Go Washington rally supporting initiatives concerning parental rights and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ athletics at the Washington state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Before the new state income tax passed by Democrats was even proposed as legislation, many of us who oppose […]
2026 Legislative Session: AI, Rural ADUs and new Millionaire Tax debated
EVERETT — Snohomish County state legislators on Tuesday recapped the recently concluded 2026 legislative session during a virtual forum, spotlighting substantial investments in transportation infrastructure while offering sharply different assessments of a new income tax on high earners. The Economic Alliance of Snohomish County hosted the discussion with Senators Marko Liias (D21–Edmonds) and Keith Wagoner […]
Democrats quietly pushing rollback of estate tax increase
OLYMPIA [THE CENTER SQUARE]—As majority Democrats in Olympia push ahead with a controversial income tax bill, they are also moving to roll back another tax-the-rich policy passed during the 2025 session. Senate Bill 6347, authored by Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, would change the rates approved a year ago for all eight brackets exactly to where […]
WA income tax on higher earners clears first legislative hurdle
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Democrats advanced controversial income tax legislation out of a key Washington state Senate committee on Monday after pledging more proceeds to local public defender costs and increasing a tax break for small businesses. Senate Bill 6346 passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee on a voice vote. This marked the first legislative test of […]
Conflicting reports cloud Seahawks ownership after Super Bowl as Millionaire Tax looms
SEATTLE—Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the potential sale of the Seattle Seahawks following Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, with sources indicating the team could hit the market shortly after the game, though the owning estate firmly denies it’s for sale now. According to league and ownership sources cited by ESPN, the Seahawks, valued at […]
