Republican budget leaders on
Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package

“A new kind of
March madness”

OLYMPIA… Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, offered this reaction to the $20 billion, four-year tax package proposed by the Senate’s majority Democrats today, ahead of the anticipated Monday rollout of their 2025-27 operating-budget proposal.

From Sen. Gildon, who is Senate Republican budget leader:

“My first reaction was wow – this is a new kind of March madness, especially the new attempt to do away with the 1% cap voters put on property-tax growth. We keep hearing from Senate Democrats that they want to make the wealthiest Washingtonians pay more. But the property-tax increase they want is regressive. It would fall directly on the backs of families who are far from wealthy and also become a pass-through cost to renters across our state. To me that’s talking out of both sides of your mouth.

“Everyone knows what the Climate Commitment Act has done to their cost of living, yet it’s a lot smaller than any of the taxes the Democrats proposed today.

“Senate Republicans have proven we can have a balanced budget without a single tax increase or a single service cut. Our $ave Washington approach is a better way to support the priorities we all share, including full funding for K-12 and services for our most vulnerable neighbors, without asking working families to pay more.”

From Sen. Torres, who is assistant budget leader:

“How could our Democratic colleagues ‘scrub the budget for savings,’ as they claimed today, and still want $20 billion in new and higher taxes? I’m also very troubled by the property-tax increase, because the annual growth rate would likely be higher than the 3% they proposed in 2023 and 2024, and it would compound over time.

“Republicans brought up the idea of a temporary 1% sales-tax cut in 2022, when the state had a surplus. The Democrats did nothing. Now they’re proposing to cut the sales tax half a percentage point, but only along with the largest set of tax increases in state history – and the sales-tax cut wouldn’t take effect until 2027 anyway. It’s hard to see that as a serious attempt to help the struggling households across our state.

“The Senate Democrats make a point of suggesting each one of their tax increases would help public schools. The $ave Washington budget we unveiled March 11 would fully fund our K-12 schools without any tax increases. The truth is, they’ve wanted tax increases like these for years. The budget shortfall is simply a convenient new excuse.”

Find out more about the madness of the 2025 Democrat tax proposals at www.TaxMadness.com.

Higher taxes on small business

New Democrat tax bill expected to affect 20,000 businesses, costing them and consumers $90 million a year — TO START

A Senate Democrat this week introduced Senate Bill 5791, which would raise the business and operations tax from 1.75% to 1.8%. While that may seem like a minor jump in the rate, the Washington State Department of Revenue estimates it amounts to YOU paying another $90 million a year to state government. How?

Businesses don’t pay taxes. People do.

A tax on business is a tax on consumers. Businesses, especially small businesses, can’t absorb higher costs without passing them on through higher prices. DOR also estimates 20,000 businesses will be affected.

This includes hospitals. The cost of health care is already high and hospitals already engage in cost-shifting to cover the expense of treating people without insurance. Those costs get shifted to insurance providers and result in higher premiums, higher out-of-pocket expenses.

As Democrats prepare to release their budget, we expect to see them introduce even more bills that would raise taxes. The question is, how much more can you afford to pay so they can cover a budget shortfall they created by overspending? And are you willing to pay higher taxes knowing it’s very likely the majority will not restrain itself on spending in this new budget?

The budget forecast released this week shows an $845 million drop in state revenue — a drop that is a direct result of bad Democrat policies that have driven people and employers out of state.

Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, is the Senate Republican lead on the operating budget and the co-author of the $ave Washington budget proposal. His reaction to the revenue forecast:

“Take heed and show restraint going forward, especially with the uncertainty about actions at the federal level that could affect our situation. The smart approach is to avoid new and higher taxes, limit new spending to core priorities like K-12 and public safety, preserve social services, and protect the rainy-day fund,” Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, said in a statement. 

CALL TO ACTION

Tell the bill’s sponsor and the Democrat chair of the Senate budget committee that this tax, and others, are UNACCEPTABLE.

If this bill receives a hearing, we will notify you so you can sign in CON and testify against it.

Stopping people from stealing from first responders

Stealing from first responders may soon become a felony.

Introduced by Senate Republican Caucus Chair Judy Warnick, Senate Bill 5323 would strengthen penalties for the theft and possession of stolen property belonging to first responders. The bill was approved in the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 47-2.

SB 5323 would classify the theft or possession of property used by firefighters or emergency medical service providers as a first-degree felony when such property is stolen from a fire station, emergency medical service facility, or vehicle. This is intended to deter crimes that compromise the effectiveness and safety of first responders.

“Our first responders risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Senator Warnick. “Ensuring they have the necessary equipment is crucial. This legislation sends a clear message that stealing from those who serve and protect will not be tolerated.”

The bill addresses concerns over increasing incidents where essential equipment, such as lifesaving tools, has been stolen, hindering emergency response efforts. The issue was brought to her attention by first responders in Moses Lake.

By elevating the severity of these offenses to a class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine up to $20,000, the legislation seeks to provide a strong deterrent against such crimes.

Senate Bill 5323 is now under consideration in the House of Representatives.

The status of the bill to help hire more officers

Despite nine Senate Democrats cosponsoring Sen. Jeff Holy’s bill that would increase the number of law enforcement officers in Washington, it was left to die before it could reach the Senate floor for a vote.

Senate Bill 5060 not only has strong bipartisan support, it has the vocal support of Gov. Ferguson. Senate Republican Leader John Braun noted in the recent Republican media availability that there is a chance SB 5060 would be included in the budget instead.

If it becomes law, SB 5060 will provide $100 million in grants to local governments specifically to hire more law enforcement officers. Since Washington is dead last in the nation for the number of law enforcement officers per capita – trailing behind all 50 states and the District of Columbia — we need this legislation to pass. It will help make our streets safer.

 

Senators Braun and Gildon discuss the
$ave Washington budget proposal

Learn more about the Washington State Senate Republican budget proposal that would live within our means.

What does it “save”? It saves taxpayers from BILLIONS in higher taxes, reckless overspending, and any cuts in services.