House Republican Budget Leader Rep. Travis Couture and Rep. Dan Griffey condemned majority Democrats today for forcing through an unconstitutional, first-in-the-state income tax that Washington voters have rejected nearly a dozen times.
“Washingtonians are pleading for relief as they struggle under an affordability crisis and the weight of the largest tax increase in state history,” said Couture, R-Allyn. “Instead, the majority doubled down with a state income tax that sabotages our families and threatens Washington’s economic future.”
Democrats sought to slip the bill through in the dark of night, but House Republicans held the line with an epic 24-hour floor fight, ensuring the income tax was debated in the light of day.
Senate Bill 6346 imposes a 9.9% tax on income exceeding $1 million and is projected to siphon billions of dollars in new revenue into state coffers.
“They market this as a ‘millionaires’ tax’ to imply it’s a surgical strike on a tiny group,” said Griffey, R-Allyn. “But their own leadership has already signaled that the public shouldn’t trust that claim. This is a ‘pie crust’ promise, easily made, easily broken, and the majority won’t even let voters have a say.”
Both lawmakers noted the proposal flies in the face of Washington’s long-standing constitutional barrier against graduated income taxes.
“For nearly a century, Washington courts have classified income as property,” Couture said. “Our constitution demands that property be taxed uniformly. That is exactly why voters have killed income tax proposals time and again. Democrats know a legal war is coming; they passed it anyway.”
Griffey argued that the vote exposes a massive rift between Olympia and the people it represents.
“Washingtonians have spiked an income tax nearly a dozen times,” Griffey said. “Tonight, the majority effectively told the voters: ‘We don’t care what you think.’ They’ve hunted this tax for decades, and now they’ve finally forced it through.”
Couture warned the new tax reinforces a failing pattern in the capital: bloated government, skyrocketing taxes, and deteriorating results.
“The majority has spent a decade dramatically expanding state government, yet Washington’s most critical problems have only metastasized,” Couture said. “From homelessness and addiction to failing schools and a crushing cost-of-living crisis, our state is in worse shape than it was 10 years ago. This vote only pours gasoline on the fire.”
He added, “At some point, you have to admit the problem isn’t a lack of revenue. The problem is Olympia’s spending addiction.”
Griffey cautioned that once the infrastructure for an income tax is established, the “millionaire” threshold is likely just a starting point.
“History proves that once the government opens a new vein of tax revenue, it never stays limited,” Griffey said. “Today, they’re coming for the millionaires. Tomorrow, they’re coming for the middle class. The people of Washington have been crystal clear-sooner or later, Olympia is going to have to listen.”