When this state tax falls short of revenue projections, guess who’s next in line to pay? Spoiler: It’s not just the billionaires.
Capital-Gains Tax: The Cash Grab Disguised as 'Fairness' – Don’t Fall for It!
In a recent op-ed, GOP State Senator John Braun highlights how opponents of Initiative 2109 are spreading misinformation about Washington’s capital-gains income tax, falsely claiming “99.8% of us will never pay this tax.” In reality, the tax is underperforming, generating only half the revenue expected in its second year, with high-profile individuals like Jeff Bezos moving out of state to avoid it. When taxes fail to meet revenue expectations, Democrats tend to raise rates or expand the tax base, as seen with Senate Bill 5335, which proposed increasing the capital-gains tax by over 20%.
Braun warns this is just a step toward a universal state income tax, something voters have rejected multiple times. Claims that repealing the tax would harm education or child care are misleading, as the state’s budget already funds these areas without it. Additionally, Democrats’ focus on “tax fairness” is contradicted by their refusal to lower other regressive taxes, like the sales tax. The capital-gains tax is clearly an income tax, despite what the state Supreme Court claims, and voters can stop its expansion by supporting I-2109 to avoid falling into a broader income-tax system. Make sure you vote and return your ballot as soon as possible. Read more at the Spokesman Review.
Bob Ferguson's plan to tackle the fentanyl crisis sounds great—if you’re a fan of recycling failed strategies!
The Seattle Times recently published an article on what Bob Ferguson and Dave Reichert propose for tackling the fentanyl crisis affecting communities across Washington. Unsurprisingly, they completely missed the mark by failing to critically examine Ferguson’s record. They fail to hold him accountable for his inaction on this crisis and the broader issues surrounding drug policy.
Ferguson has been boasting about securing over $1 billion in lawsuits to address the fentanyl crisis, but the reality is that, as the state’s top lawman, he hasn’t done much to solve this pressing issue. His track record is dismal, especially regarding the historic influx of dangerous drugs—something made worse by his party’s failure to secure the southern border. Ferguson loves to talk about recovery and treatment, but his approach has done little to curb the rampant drug crisis or slow the flow of fentanyl, which has already claimed over 1,000 lives in King County alone.
Now, Ferguson is trying to backtrack on his previous support for decriminalizing hard drugs, likely realizing how unpopular that stance is with voters. Of course, the change feels more like a political calculation than a genuine concern for public safety. As we’ve come to expect from Ferguson, his plan sounds good on paper but is merely a rehash of strategies that haven’t worked in the past. Read the Seattle Times article here.
Seattle’s Genius Plan: How to Tank Affordable Housing While Pretending to Save It!
Seattle’s tenant protection laws have pushed low-income housing into crisis, according to a lawsuit by GRE Downtowner LLC. The company, which operates the Addison on Fourth, claims that six ordinances passed by the City Council have made it “virtually impossible” to run affordable housing, leading to mortgage default and potential receivership. Despite warnings from the housing industry, Seattle pushed through policies like the Winter Eviction Ban and 180-Day Notice Requirement, causing soaring operating costs and reduced livability for tenants. The lawsuit argues these regulations have driven developers away from building affordable housing, leaving Seattle with a system that destroys what it claims to protect. Seattle’s clueless policies are now threatening to collapse the very housing they’re supposed to safeguard, leaving both tenants and operators in a lose-lose situation. Read more at Center Square.
Washington’s Paid Family Leave: Higher Costs, Bigger Bailouts—But Hey, At Least High Earners Are Cashing In!
The Washington Policy Center reports that the premium rate for Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program will rise to 0.92% in 2025, more than double its initial 2019 rate of 0.40%. The program has already required a $200 million bailout from the general fund and may face more short-term deficits through 2026. Despite the increasing costs, many low-income workers don’t benefit from the program, with higher earners using it more frequently. Employers currently cover about 28% of the premium, while employees cover the remaining 71%. Lawmakers are now questioning whether they underestimated the cost of this taxpayer-funded benefit – and, well, that answer is clear. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.
Machinists Strike While Boeing Burns: When Holding Out for Pensions Helps Sink the Ship
Boeing reported a staggering $6 billion loss in Q3, with $4 billion coming from its commercial airplane division, as its operating margins plummeted. The company has been severely impacted by a six-week strike involving 33,000 machinists, costing over $100 million a day, halting production of the 737 Max and worsening Boeing’s financial woes. Despite a proposed 35% pay raise and bonuses, the union continues to fight for the return of pensions—an unrealistic demand that Boeing has refused. Meanwhile, Boeing is laying off 10% of its global workforce, trying to stay afloat amid massive debt and a deteriorating reputation. As the union drags out negotiations, Boeing’s future grows bleaker. The timing of this strike couldn’t be worse for Boeing – and its employees. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.
Voting Season is Here: Get Your Ballots Ready!
General Election voting kicked off last week as drop boxes opened for ballot submissions. Each county is required to mail ballots to voters by today, starting an 18-day voting period leading up to Election Day on November 5. Please remember to submit your ballot early to avoid last-minute issues. You can postmark your ballot by 8 p.m. on November 5 (no postage required), or through county drop boxes, which are open 24/7 and will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. As you know, this election includes crucial positions like president, governor, congressional seats, and local measures. Please remember to vote! You can find ballot drop locations here.
Subscribe to Our Podcast Today!
Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:
- Fresh off a Seattle Times endorsement, Jaime Herrera-Beutler joins us to discuss her race for Commissioner of Public Lands. What does the Commissioner do? How can we reduce wildfires? What’s involved in forest management? Jaime tackles these questions and more.
- Pete Serrano discusses his path to law school, work as an environmental lawyer, and run for office. He breaks down the Attorney General’s mission, public safety priorities, and the police and public defender shortages. Pete also highlights what sets him apart from his opponent and shares thoughts on working with the legislature and whether the AG should be appointed by the governor.
- Forget the debates! We’re going full counter-programming with our first video podcast featuring the one and only Ashley Stubbs. She’s shares the wild world of campaign merch and swag. We dive into her treasure trove of campaign knickknacks and discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how it might have even cost Mayor Pete the 2020 election.
- The hosts dive into regulations with Patrick McLaughlin, Director of Policy Analytics at the Mercatus Center. Patrick discusses his latest project on state-level regulations and their economic impacts. How does Washington compare to its neighbors? Do regulators care about stifling progress, or are regulations necessary? Patrick addresses critics and offers insights on improving the regulatory landscape, especially in a blue state.
- Judge Dave Larson joins the podcast to discuss his run for the Washington State Supreme Court, his journey into law, and the realities of judicial elections. He also touches on bias in the judiciary, legal news on ballot initiatives, and whether legal shows get it right. Finally, he shares ideas for improving the justice system.
- David Olson talks about his bid for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including the role of OSPI, implications of I-2081, and his approaches to learning loss and school tech policies. He also addresses rising anti-Semitism in schools and the need for more apprenticeships.
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