Democrats thought a “necessity clause” could keep voters quiet — now Let’s Go Washington is gearing up to make them defend their income tax obsession at the ballot box.
Democrats Build an Income Tax, Voters Build a Rebellion
After Democrats pushed through Washington’s new 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million — complete with a “necessity clause” designed to block a public referendum — conservatives at Let’s Go Washington are gearing up for a statewide initiative campaign to overturn it.
The group, led by Brian Heywood, is still deciding whether to aim for the 2026 ballot or pursue an initiative to the Legislature that would likely land before voters in 2027 after Democrats reject it. Either way, the effort ensures voters will still get a say on Olympia’s latest tax scheme.
And Democrats know they have a problem. Supporters of the tax are reportedly preparing to spend as much as $80 million defending it.
The campaign faces a steep signature-gathering challenge if it targets this year’s ballot, but after the Washington Supreme Court shut down the referendum route earlier this week, Let’s Go Washington is pivoting instead of backing down.
Heywood also tied the fight to this year’s Washington Supreme Court elections, noting the same justices who will eventually rule on the tax’s constitutionality are also up for reelection. As he put it: “Your income tax is on the ballot six times, not once.”
Meanwhile, Democrats continue insisting the tax is just “reform” to fix Washington’s tax code — because in Olympia, creating a brand-new income tax somehow counts as moderation now. Read more at the Washington State Standard.
Bob Ferguson Celebrates “Helping” Small Businesses by Taxing Them More
Gov. Bob Ferguson spent Small Business Week congratulating himself online for what he called “the largest small business tax cut in state history” — all thanks to Democrats’ new 9.9% income tax on high earners. The problem? Many actual small business owners immediately called him out for it.
Senate Bill 6346, signed by Ferguson earlier this year, imposes a 9.9% tax on household income above $1 million starting in 2029 and is already facing lawsuits over its constitutionality. Critics pointed out the obvious flaw in Ferguson’s victory lap: many Washington small businesses are structured as LLCs and S-corporations, meaning their business income flows directly onto personal tax returns — exactly the kind of income Democrats are targeting.
The backlash online was brutal. Small business owners replied that they’ve seen no tax relief whatsoever, with several accusing Ferguson of misleading the public while piling new burdens onto employers already struggling in Washington’s hostile business climate. Others reminded him that, as attorney general, he aggressively pursued businesses that stayed open during COVID lockdowns.
Meanwhile, Democrats keep insisting the tax is about “fairness,” even as surveys show nearly one in four Washington employers are now considering leaving the state altogether. Apparently Olympia’s economic strategy is to celebrate small businesses while simultaneously giving them reasons to pack the U-Haul. Read more at Seattle Red.
$534 Million Later, Democrats Finally Discover Accountability
A damning forensic audit of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority revealed $13 million in mismanaged funds and a staggering $45 million deficit, triggering growing calls for accountability as even local officials admit the system is failing.
The King County Council has now ordered a 90-day review that could ultimately dissolve KCRHA altogether, though officials admit untangling the bloated bureaucracy would be a nightmare after years of expanding contracts and dependency on federal funding. Seattle Councilmember Bob Kettle bluntly called the findings “damning,” acknowledging the city, county, and state are all in fiscal distress at the same time.
Meanwhile, critics are pointing out the obvious problem Democrats spent years pretending not to see: addiction and mental illness are driving much of the homelessness crisis. During a recent Seattle Public Safety Committee meeting, We Heart Seattle founder Andrea Suarez blasted the city’s “housing first” approach, describing taxpayer-funded tiny house villages where fentanyl use is openly normalized while accountability is nowhere to be found. Recovering addict Corey Rattleff echoed the same point, saying the city’s policies simply made addiction more comfortable instead of helping people recover.
Since 2019, KCRHA has received roughly $534 million to tackle homelessness. The result? Homelessness in King County has climbed another 26%. But at least Democrats can say they spent the money. Read more at Center Square.
Sound Transit’s $34.5 Billion Oopsie
Sound Transit officials insist they remain committed to delivering the full voter-approved ST3 expansion plan — despite the small problem that the project is now sitting a jaw-dropping $34.5 billion over budget, roughly 64% higher than originally promised.
At Thursday’s executive committee meeting, agency leaders unveiled a plan that fully funds some projects, partially funds others, and quietly pushes several commitments into the magical future category of “we’ll figure it out later.” Sound Transit is now considering extending its financial plan all the way to 2052, because apparently “25-year transit plan” in government language really means “maybe your retirement years.”
Transit advocates themselves sounded increasingly frustrated. One Ballard organizer pointed out that his station timeline has already ballooned from 2039 to sometime after 2052 — if it happens at all. He’s currently 27 years old and openly asked whether he’ll live long enough to see it finished.
Naturally, agency officials blamed inflation and construction costs, while still insisting no projects are technically being canceled — just delayed indefinitely. Meanwhile, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson floated the idea of using 75-year bonds to help pay for it all, meaning taxpayers could still be paying interest on these projects long after many original voters are gone.
And despite the endless delays, ballooning costs, and ridership still sitting below pre-pandemic levels, Sound Transit leadership continues assuring the public that everything is under control.
Because in Washington government, no failed megaproject is ever truly a failure — it just needs a few more decades and billions of dollars. Read more at Center Square.
Staffers Keep Fleeing Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s Office
New LegiStorm data shows Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez now ranks in the 82nd percentile for congressional staff turnover — a dramatic jump from just the 52nd percentile one Congress ago. In plain English: her office is shedding staff faster than roughly four out of five offices on Capitol Hill.
The timing could hardly be worse for the vulnerable Democrat. With WA-03 already rated a toss-up and John Braungaining momentum in the race, a rapidly revolving office does not exactly project stability or competence.
Perez attempted to downplay the numbers, pointing out that “nearly half” of her staff has remained since she entered office. But that response also quietly confirms the other half didn’t.
And critics say the turnover may not be random. Before arriving in Congress, Perez reportedly faced complaints while serving as executive director of the Stevenson Downtown Association, where records reviewed by Clark County Today suggested local leadership had grown frustrated with her treatment of volunteers and workplace conduct. At the time, her campaign dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
Now, with mounting questions about fundraising, district support, and internal management, the staffing churn is adding yet another headache for Democrats trying to hold onto one of the most competitive seats in the country. Read more at Seattle Red.
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