Plan. Protect. Save.

State government and your money

Our Budget Principles

  • Fully fund our public K-12 school system, with a focus on achieving positive, objectively measurable outcomes.
  • Prioritize services and supports for our most vulnerable residents, including children, seniors, and those in crisis.
  • Fund essential government priorities first, align spending with available resources, maintain responsible reserve levels, and return any unspent funds to the public.

Democrat Tax Proposals

Washingtonians already face a higher-than-average tax burden, with state and local taxes totaling $7,458 per person—over $1,000 more than the median. Despite this, Democrats continue pushing for even higher taxes. We stand firmly against these efforts and believe Washington families deserve relief, not more financial strain.

Meet the Senate Democrats’ nine-piece, $18+ billion tax package

The Mega-Taxes: $4 billion and up

1.Taxing financial intangible property like stocks and bonds as if it was tangible property, like a piece of land, could take nearly $9 billion from WA residents over two years, and inspire others to leave the state as Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos did

2. Raising the payroll taxes paid by all WA employers could take an additional $4.5 billion over two years, while discouraging hiring and expansion

3. A higher business-and-occupation tax on larger companies could take $4 billion over two years and further shrink WA’s manufacturing sector

Hit ‘em again, and harder this time

4. Increasing taxes on “advanced computing businesses” could take nearly $400 million from major WA employers in the first biennium

5. Raising the capital-gains income tax by 41% on selected WA taxpayers could take nearly $270 million in the first biennium

6. Expanding the real-estate excise tax to more WA property sales and imposing a new tax on real-estate transfers could take $164 million in the first biennium

These are NOT the “wealthy few”

7. Tripling the limit on the annual growth of property-tax rates, and doing away with the voter-approved 1% cap set in 2001, could take nearly $220 million in the first biennium and hit 3.2 million WA property owners

8. Double-taxing the rental of storage units, by applying one tax to the owner of a storage unit and another tax to the renter, could take $85 million in the first biennium

9. A new 11% tax on sales of firearms and ammunition, which amounts to a tax on exercising a right guaranteed by the WA and U.S. constitutions, could take $36 million in the first biennium

Video

VIDEO: Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, explains how a proposal from Senate Democrats to increase the “business and occupation” tax imposed on Washington employers really ends up costing everyday people more, when they purchase products and services.

VIDEO: In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, Senate Republican Leader John Braun breaks down the controversial Road Usage Charge proposal. He also dives into the latest wave of tax proposals from state Democrats, including: A new wealth tax (aka “intangible assets tax”) | Higher payroll taxes on top earners | Property tax increases that could drive up rent and hurt seniors

Government Spending

The regular 2025 legislative session will end April 27. By then, lawmakers must deal with a budget gap that is self-inflicted, caused by chronic overspending. Republicans will work to protect funding for the services and programs valued most by the people of Washington.
Over the past four budget cycles...

…majority Democrats have increased state spending by an average of nearly 17% from each operating budget to the next

Spending decisions created this situation...

…and Republicans see spending decisions as the way out of it.

Democrats say the budget gap is $12 billion over the next four years...

…Republicans point to the $6.7 billion estimate from the Senate’s non-partisan budget staff.

State government is expected to have $5 billion (7.6%) more available for the 2025-27 budget...

…and at the same time, the state’s core sectors – educate (K-12), medicate (social services), incarcerate (Corrections) – are all flat or in decline.

Video

VIDEO: Deputy House Republican Leader Chris Corry and Deputy Senate Republican Leader Drew MacEwen expose issues with state spending, unfunded mandates, and bureaucratic roadblocks that hinder efficient governance.

Government Growth

Savings Strategies

Republicans are working hard to compile an extensive list of proposals aimed at cutting wasteful government spending.

We believe there are countless opportunities to save taxpayer dollars, streamline operations, and make government more efficient.

In fact, we’ve dedicated an entire page to highlighting these cost-saving ideas.

Explore our $ave Washington page to see our proposals and learn how we’re working to save your tax dollars!

Additional Resources

New & Higher Taxes: The People Aren’t Buying It
Results are from a Jan. 2025 poll conducted by EMC research   Read More
Key Findings
  • The people of Washington are more pessimistic than optimistic about the budget and the deficit. They are concerned about the economy and the availability of good-paying jobs.
  • However, they are optimistic about the future of Washington.
  • People are more likely to say the deficit is due to the state legislature failing to control spending rather than a result of inflation, increased demand, population growth, etc.
  • People overwhelmingly believe they will be the ones to bear the cost of any increased spending.
  • Nearly two-thirds believe Washington will lose good-paying jobs as a result of increased spending.
  • Fewer than one-fourth think past state spending has improved our quality of life and don’t think new spending will be any different.
  • Opposition to increased spending only grows after hearing the messaging from both sides.

Video

VIDEO: Discover how Washington’s proposed taxes could impact our economic future. Watch the PowerPoint to understand the potential consequences and join the conversation on safeguarding our state’s prosperity.