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 […]
John Braun: There’s no overstating what Democrats just did to our state
Sadly, we’ve now seen just how much damage 90 people can do to our state in 60 days. The 90 people are Democrats: 59 state representatives, 30 state senators and Gov. Bob Ferguson. The 60 days went from Jan. 12 through March 12 — meaning this year’s legislative session. While Republicans fought hard and well […]
Gov Ferguson commentary on 2026 legislative session
When I delivered my State of the State address at the start of this session, I talked about history — particularly the history that we create ourselves. I want to thank legislators, legislative staff and my team for a historic legislative session. I was very specific in articulating key priorities in my State of the […]
Washington’s Millionaires’ Tax Passes House, Now Moves to Senate for Final Vote Before Becoming Law
OLYMPIA—After 24 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds of heated debate with over 80 amendments, the Democratic-led Senate Bill 6346, known as the Millionaires’ Tax, passed the Washington State House Tuesday, March 10, with a vote of 51-46 without any Republican support. The measure could reshape the Evergreen State’s regressive tax system but faces fears […]
It a go! Rep. Berg’s proposal sweetens the Millionaires’ Tax deal for the governor to sign
OLYMPIA—In a historic moment for Washington state, Governor Bob Ferguson and Representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek) have struck a deal to guarantee free breakfasts and lunches to all students enrolled in Washington public schools, regardless of household income, with the passage of the proposed Millionaires’ Tax, SB-6346. “I will sign this version of the Millionaires’ […]
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 State Senate approves Millionaires’ Tax on personal income
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD & BILL LUCIA]—Washington state moved one step closer Monday, February 16, to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t. Majority Democrats in the Senate advanced legislation on a 27-22 vote to tax households earning more than a million dollars. Passage of the bill followed a three-and-a-half hour debate on […]
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 […]
Millionaires’ Tax Showdown in Olympia: Fears of Business Exodus vs Calls for Fairness
OLYMPIA—Washington lawmakers heard impassioned pleas from both sides during a packed Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on Friday, February 6, 2026, over Senate Bill 6346, a proposal to impose a 9.9% tax on individuals earning more than $1 million annually. Supporters cast the measure as a vital step toward fixing what they call a […]
