QUOTABLE
It Won’t Stop Here – Once income taxes start, they spread.
Why should Washington families trust that this income tax won’t eventually hit them?
You shouldn’t. Not to be flip about it–but if past history is prologue—yeah, you probably shouldn’t necessarily believe that.
Democrats admit they can’t bind future legislatures.
We don’t have the ability to bind future legislatures. And, I suspect that the in the future, we all want to make sure that our successors will have the flexibility to, respond to the challenges that they see in front of them.
We’re not going to bind future legislatures
Broken Promises
Democrats pledged no income tax. Now they’re breaking that promise.
That was, what did Mary Poppins call it? A pie crust promise. Easily made, easily broken.
Jobs at Risk
Washington’s no-income-tax advantage built our economy. This bill kills it.
Radically shifting the tax structure in a very short period of time… does the potential of a very real damage to our economic engine. We’re walking away from a really unique system that has attracted entrepreneurs for generations.
Even The Seattle Times Warns: The Income Tax Plan Is a Bad Deal for Washington
When the state’s largest newspaper and even Democratic activists raise red flags about the proposed income tax, Washingtonians should pay attention. Here’s what they’re saying:
Overspending Concerns
“Though state revenues have continued to grow, [Democratic] lawmakers still want to spend at rates that eclipse what’s coming in.”
— The Seattle Times Editorial Board, Feb. 8, 2026
An Urge to Expand Government
“[Democrats] must also resist their insatiable urge to grow the state budget…”
— The Seattle Times Editorial Board, Feb. 8, 2026
No Safeguards for Taxpayers
“[Democratic] proponents last week said they would not include any provision that would bind future Legislatures from lowering the threshold. In other words, there’s no protection.”
— The Seattle Times Editorial Board, Feb. 8, 2026
A Botched Rollout
“…look what happened this past week with the rollout of the Democrats’ long-awaited state income tax plan. In a bubble, they botched it. It contained neither innovative new spending initiatives nor tax relief ideas for the middle class.”
— Danny Westneat, The Seattle Times, Feb. 7, 2026
Crafted for Politicians, Not People
“It’s like they crafted it for themselves, to make their jobs easier, without a thought to how to get voters to approve it, or to make lives measurably better…”
— Danny Westneat quoting Democratic activist Robert Cruickshank, The Seattle Times, Feb. 7, 2026
MORE
“This ‘millionaire’s tax’ is really an ‘everybody tax.”
-Sen. Matt Boehnke, 8th LD
“This is being marketed as a ‘millionaire tax.’ It’s an ‘everybody tax’ that just temporarily exempts people earning less than $1 million.”
-Sen. Chris Gildon, 25th LD
“Do the Democrats in Olympia think Washingtonians are fools?”
-Sen. John Braun, 20th LD
“Not one dime of the nearly $4 billion per year expected to come from the income tax is earmarked for education or healthcare. 95% of that money goes right to the general fund. Supporters of the tax have led people to believe otherwise.”
-Sen. Mark Schoesler, 9th LD
“Our state doesn’t need an income tax. Especially when this bill would put nearly all the money into the state’s pocket instead of giving tax relief to the people.”
-Sen. Perry Dozier, 16th LD
“The brunt of the revenue would go straight to the General Fund to be spent or squandered (pick your term) by the majority party in whatever way they deem fit.”
-Sen. Keith Wagoner, 39th LD
“An income tax on anyone in Washington is an income tax on everyone.”
-Rep. Drew Stokesbary
“Even though the income tax wouldn’t be collected until 2029, Democrats worded their bill in a way that prevents the people from using their constitutional power of referendum to approve or reject it. That’s shameful.”
-Sen. John Braun, 20th LD
“If voters allow this income tax to stand, it will be changed to tax everyone by 2031.”
-Rep. Larry Springer, 45th LD
“Anyone who calls it a ‘millionaire tax’ wants it. Anyone who calls it an ‘income tax’ understands it.”
-Ari Hoffman, radio host
“Saddling high earners with new taxes simply to cover a perpetual budget deficit is both politically disingenuous and economically dangerous.”
-The Seattle Times Editorial Board
“Most importantly, the proposal demonstrates Democrats’ reflexive reaction to any budget shortfall – raise taxes while leaving Republicans out of the discussion.”
-The Columbian Editorial Board
“Legislative leaders must demonstrate a willingness to cut spending, must engage with the opposing party and must be fiscally responsible rather than reaching deeper into the pockets of Washington residents.”
-The Columbian Editorial Board
“A tax exemption on hygiene products like soap and mouthwash? That amounts to crumbs from the table.”
-The Seattle Times Editorial Board
“With a short legislative year, lawmakers should focus on immediate solutions to current problems. An income tax on millionaires would not achieve those goals.”
-The Columbian Editorial Board
“In just the past two weeks, I’ve hard directly from or heard about 50 couples who are already in the process of, or soon to be changing their domicile, out of this state, including one that you’ve heard of – one of the loudest Democrats in Washington state – Nick Hanauer. He’s changing his domicile.”
-Brian Heywood
“The most-obscene thing about this bill is that it takes money away from people who earned it and gives it to people who didn’t earn it.”
-Tim Eyman, anti-tax activist
“Nothing in this bill right now makes Washington state (more) affordable.”
-Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg.
“It is a ruse…” “They know an income tax on anyone will be an income tax on everyone eventually.”
-Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Jason Mercier with Mountain States Policy Center shared the following posts:
- https://www.mountainstatespolicy.org/post/pretty-little-income-tax-lies-why-washington-s-proposed-millionaire-tax-is-olympia-s-trojan-horse
- https://www.mountainstatespolicy.org/post/seven-questions-for-lawmakers-proposing-an-income-tax-for-washington-state
He also pointed out:
On September 13, 1960 the state Supreme Court issued a unanimous one page ruling with this sage advice: Don’t ask the Court to reverse its numerous income tax rulings, amend the constitution:
“The argument is again pressed upon us that these cases were wrongly decided. The court is unwilling, however, to recede from the position announced in its repeated decisions.
Among other things, the attorney general urges that the result should now be different because the state is confronted with a financial crisis. If so, the constitution may be amended by vote of the people. Such a constitutional amendment was rejected by popular vote in 1934.”
And this final note from Jason:
It takes 33 votes to advance a constitutional amendment in the WA Senate. In a universe where [Democrats] cared about honoring court precedent the income tax would have failed by 6 votes.
