OLYMPIA… Leaders of the state Senate Republican Caucus have called on Gov. Bob Ferguson to veto the income-tax bill passed by majority Democrats during this year’s annual session.
In their letter requesting the veto, the Republican leaders also urged the governor to call legislators back to the Capitol to produce a supplemental operating budget that won’t lead to a budget shortfall as high as $10 billion in the 2027-29 budget cycle.
“Today is a dark day in our state’s history. Republicans have said all along that an income tax on anyone in our state will become an income tax on everyone. We fought this long and hard during the session because we know this tax won’t make living in Washington more affordable, for all the reasons listed in our veto request – including how it will drive job creators and their resources from our state. If the governor can’t see that and have the courage to do what’s right for our state, he should at least veto the most offensive section, which prevents a voter referendum,” said Senate Republican Leader John Braun, of Centralia.
“This tax is unconstitutional, unlawful, unpopular, unnecessary, unfair and unwise. It’s just another way to give Olympia even more money to hand out, without accountability. State government doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Even if this tax survives the anticipated challenges and becomes law, it won’t save the taxpayers from another massive budget shortfall. That’s why the governor should not only veto the income tax but should also call us into a special session to come up with an operating budget that is actually sustainable,” said Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup and Republican leader on the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
“We’re calling on the governor to stand with the people of Washington, who have rejected an income tax at the ballot box 10 times. This proposal ignores their voice, defies nearly 90 years of judicial precedent, and further erodes trust in government,” said Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco and assistant Republican leader on the Ways and Means committee. “The constitution is clear: income is property. Saying otherwise isn’t just wrong, it’s unconstitutional.”