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Washington Republican leaders urge House to block Senate income tax, cite affordability concerns
Summary
Republican leaders at a media availability urged House Republicans and Gov. Inslee to oppose a Senate-passed income tax, calling it unconstitutional and harmful to affordability while warning that dozens of other tax proposals could raise costs for households and businesses.
Republican leaders in the Washington Legislature urged House members on Friday to reject an income tax that advanced in the Senate and warned of a slate of other proposed levies they say would worsen affordability.
"We're still focused on affordability, affordability, affordability," Senate Republican Leader John Braun said, opening the caucus availability. Braun said the Senate’s income tax would not solve cost pressures and accused Democratic proposals of relying on new taxes to address problems.
House Republican caucus chair Rep. Peter Abarno pointed to the state’s most recent revenue forecast as evidence the Legislature has capacity to pursue alternatives. "There are some projected general fund revenue increases, to the tune of about $1,800,000,000 over the next 4 years," Abarno said, arguing that the forecast undermines the need for the income tax as written.
Republicans highlighted multiple specific measures they say will increase costs if adopted: a vape tax, prescription-drug-related levies, proposed charges tied to data centers, a grocery-bag fee and a proposal they described as assessing an employer fee tied to employees who use Apple Health. Braun described that employer-linked charge as calculated on a full price the state does not pay and estimated "roughly just under $700 per person per month," saying it could amount to "about a bill just over $1,000,000,000" for employers statewide.
When asked what they hoped to hear from Gov. Jay Inslee at his 1 p.m. press conference about the legislation, Republican leaders said they would welcome further tax relief or a change of position. "I'm hoping to say, here here he changed his mind," Braun said, adding he did not expect that outcome but hoped the governor would push for more relief.
Republicans also emphasized constitutional objections. "We still think it's unconstitutional no matter what goes in front of the governor," Abarno said of the income tax. Braun suggested one procedural change he would welcome if the bill were to move to the governor: removing the bill's necessity clause so the measure could be subject to a referendum.
The group said their immediate focus for cutoff day was to stop what they described as harmful bills and to defend against further tax increases. "Our job right now is to have a strategy to get those to not make it to the house floor," one Republican leader said. The income tax, which passed the Senate, was slated to move to the House for further consideration.
Next steps: Republicans said they will work to defeat the measure in the House and continue pressuring legislators and the governor during the shortened 60-day session. A governor press conference on the bill was scheduled later Friday.
