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 […]
EXCLUSIVE: Records reveal WA millionaire’s tax is meant to legalize progressive income tax
[THE CENTER SQUARE]—According to nearly 1,000 pages of public records reviewed by The Center Square, the Washington Attorney General’s Office and Democratic leaders discussed strategies to challenge and potentially overturn the 1933 state Supreme Court decision that banned income taxes in Washington state. Link to key emails obtained by The Center Square. “I would like […]
‘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 […]
First Amendment Battle Heats Up: Journalists sue WA State House over denied press credentials
OLYMPIA—The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, February 10, against the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Capitol Correspondents Association (WSCCA) on behalf of three prominent journalists—Ari Hoffman, Brandi Kruse, and Jonathan Choe—after all three were denied legislative press credentials to cover proceedings at the Washington State Capitol. […]
Parents, school board members, and educators sue state over bill that modified Parents’ Bill of Rights
OLYMPIA [WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD]—School board directors and parents sued Washington state Thursday to block a Democrat-backed law overhauling rights for public school students and their parents. The policy has become a flashpoint in the national debate over gender inclusivity and diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools. The conservative political group, Let’s Go Washington, has a […]
Trial date set for WSDOT whistleblower who refused to lie about Cap-and-Trade scheme
OLYMPIA—A trial date has been set in the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) whistleblower lawsuit, brought by the Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) on behalf client Scott Smith. The trial has been scheduled for August 18, 2025, in Thurston County Superior Court. The parties are proceeding with discovery, which according to the scheduling order, […]
See you in court! CADF wins battle in whistleblower suit
OLYMPIA—The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) won its legal battle on Friday, June 21, against the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Office of Financial Management’s attempt to dismiss cap-and-trade scheme whistleblower Scott Smith’s lawsuit. “This isn’t just about me – it’s about state employees everywhere,” said Scott Smith. “I look forward to […]
Whistleblower who refused to lie about Cap-and-Trade scheme, files lawsuit
OLYMPIA—The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, March 5, on behalf of whistleblower Scott Smith, who earlier last year was pressured by the Governor’s Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Department of Transportation to change the numbers in his reports that indicated that the cap-and-trade scheme was significantly impacting […]
Civil Rights complaint filed in mishandling of juvenile sexual assault cases
OLYMPIA—The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) on December 19 submitted formal complaints with the civil rights divisions of both the Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington related to allegations that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office’s (KCPAO) mismanaged juvenile sexual assault cases and violated the civil rights […]
