House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary blasts Democrat-passed income tax bill as ‘betrayal’ of Washington families
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House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary blasts Democrat-passed income tax bill as ‘betrayal’ of Washington families
On Tuesday evening, House Democrats approved Senate Bill 6346, legislation that would impose a state income tax in Washington. House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary released the following statement following the 24-hour floor debate:
“This is a betrayal of the people of Washington and a direct attack on our state’s economic competitiveness. For generations, Washington’s lack of a state income tax has helped attract jobs, entrepreneurs and investment, all of which has led to growth and prosperity. Democrats just took a sledgehammer to that advantage.
“They can pretend this will only ever be a tax on millionaires, but everyone knows how these policies evolve. Spending will grow, the threshold will drop, the net will widen, and middle-class families will end up footing the bill.
“When leaders tell you not to trust their promises, believe them. House Deputy Majority Leader Larry Springer was asked before session why the public should assume this tax wouldn’t eventually apply to them. His answer was simple: ‘You shouldn’t.’ And Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen dismissed his own party’s vote to ban an income tax two years ago as a ‘pie crust promise, easily made, easily broken.’ I fully expect today’s income tax only on ‘millionaires’ to be tomorrow’s pie crust promise.
“One-party rule has made Washington one of the most expensive states in the country. Yet the only answer Democrats ever seem to have is another tax. If they couldn’t raise taxes or grow government, it’s hard to imagine what they would do with their time. Washington deserves leadership focused on making life more affordable, not politicians doubling down on the same tax-and-spend playbook that created this mess.”
