Washington Democrats treat taxpayers like an all-you-can-eat buffet—except they never stop coming back for more.

Washington: Where Tax Hikes Go to Thrive

Want a state that actually gives its taxpayers a break? Look at Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—where cutting taxes is the norm, not a rare miracle. Idaho’s tax burden ranks among the lowest in the country, and thanks to continuous tax relief, it just keeps getting better. In 2022, Idahoans paid 15.7% less in personal income taxes than the national average, and that gap is only widening as lawmakers keep cutting. Meanwhile, Washington is sprinting in the opposite direction.

The Mountain States Policy Center’s Sam Cardwell recently wrote how, in the last decade, Washington has plummeted from 15th to 35th in business climate rankings, and for good reason—our lawmakers can’t resist the urge to tax everything that moves. Despite endless tax increases, the state still faces a staggering $10-12 billion budget shortfall. And what’s their solution? More taxes, of course! This year, Democrats are pushing the biggest tax hikes in 30 years, including a wealth tax, property tax increases, a business tax hike, and even a tax on paying workers well. Because nothing says “pro-business” like punishing success.

Meanwhile, states like Wyoming and Montana continue to ease the burden on their residents. Wyoming ranks first in tax competitiveness with no personal or corporate income tax, while Montana keeps slashing tax rates, making life easier for families and small businesses. Even Idaho, which already ranks near the bottom for tax burden, keeps lowering rates and handing money back to taxpayers.

Washington’s leaders, however, remain obsessed with squeezing more out of taxpayers while failing to manage a budget. Bob Ferguson claims, “We’re not going to tax our way out of this thing,” but given his party’s track record, that’s about as believable as a Seattle traffic project finishing on time. While our neighbors enjoy tax relief, Washington remains the last outlier, clinging to its tax-and-spend addiction like a bad habit it just can’t kick. Read more at IdahoEdNews.com.

Washington’s Transportation: Higher Taxes, Worse Roads, Zero Accountability

For over a decade, Washington Democrats have prioritized public transit pipe dreams over maintaining roads and bridges, and the results are predictably disastrous. The number of state-managed bridges in poor condition has skyrocketed from 164 in 2020 to 229 in 2024, while ferry service has been slashed, ridership has plummeted, and costs have ballooned. Despite a 24% drop in public transit use, transit agency revenues have more than doubled since 2012—because nothing says “success” like fewer riders and more spending.

Meanwhile, traffic fatalities have nearly doubled, outpacing population growth, and impaired driving accidents are up. And now, with a $1 billion transportation budget shortfall (because of course there is), Democratic lawmakers have a brilliant solution: raise gas taxes—again. The Senate wants a 6-cent per gallon hike, the House wants 9 cents, and both would keep rising with inflation. Because why fix roads when you can just charge drivers more for the privilege of dodging potholes?

Washington Policy Center actually has some common-sense solutions—like prioritizing maintenance over pet projects and using carbon tax revenue to fix roads—but don’t expect Democrats to listen. They’re too busy making driving as miserable and expensive as possible. Read more at Center Square.

Seattle’s Payroll Tax Fiasco: Who Could Have Seen This Coming?

Seattle’s beloved payroll expense tax (PET) is flopping harder than expected, with 2024 revenues coming in nearly $50 million short. Mayor Bruce Harrell is now scrambling, saying he’ll “consider all options,” which, in Seattle-speak, means more taxes. Apparently, taxing big employers like Amazon and Expedia into oblivion doesn’t guarantee they’ll stick around to pay up. Who knew?

Conservatives have been warning about this for years, but Democrats assumed they could shake down businesses forever without consequences. Instead, Amazon is packing up for Bellevue, remote work is keeping employees out of Seattle, and companies like Expedia are shedding jobs. Jason Rantz calls it “catastrophic,” and even Harrell had to admit that high-paying jobs are leaving. His solution? More “progressive” tax policies—because doubling down on bad ideas always works.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Olympia are eyeing a statewide version of this train wreck, because why let Seattle have all the job-killing fun? Republican Rep. Chris Corry is sounding the alarm, but Seattle’s leadership is too busy pretending businesses are the bad guys to listen. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

Washington’s Opioid Crisis: Another “Success” Story from Democratic Leadership

While most of the country is making progress in the fight against opioid deaths, Washington is moving in the opposite direction—because of course it is. New federal data shows that Washington was one of only four states where opioid-related deaths increased year over year. With a 4.9% rise in fatal overdoses, Washington now outpaces the national average, proving once again that the state’s so-called progressive policies are anything but effective.

The Washington State Department of Health admits the crisis is serious but offers little in the way of actual solutions beyond the usual buzzwords. Meanwhile, states that have cracked down on open-air drug use and prioritized law enforcement coordination are seeing improvements. But in Washington, officials are still clinging to “harm reduction” policies that have done little more than normalize drug use and keep addiction services overwhelmed.

Experts say Washington needs better coordination between public health agencies and law enforcement—something state leaders have been actively undermining for years. Until they wake up to reality, expect more of the same: more overdoses, more failed policies, and more excuses. Read more at Center Square.

Democrats’ Gas Tax Scheme: Because You Clearly Aren’t Paying Enough

With one month left in the legislative session, Democrats in Olympia are rolling out their latest plan to squeeze more money out of taxpayers—this time with gas tax hikes tied to inflation. The Senate wants a 6-cent per gallon increase, while the House is pushing for 9 cents, with automatic annual increases ensuring you’ll never stop paying more. Rep. Andrew Barkis (R-Centralia) isn’t buying it, pointing out that the state already has billions in revenue that could be better prioritized. Instead of fixing roads and expanding capacity, Democrats are funneling money into transit, electrification, and climate projects that few people actually use. And with gas taxes set to climb indefinitely, Washingtonians can look forward to paying more for the privilege of sitting in the same traffic jams. Read more at Center Square.

Olympia’s Latest Housing Fix? Rent Control and Higher Taxes

As Washington’s housing crisis worsens, Senate Democrats are charging ahead with a rent control bill, HB 1217, capping annual rent hikes at 7% for most units and 5% for mobile homes. They claim it’ll provide stability, but landlords warn it’ll only deter new construction—exactly what the state needs to fix the shortage. Meanwhile, Democrats are also pushing to remove property tax caps, creating a perfect storm where landlords face skyrocketing costs while being handcuffed on rent adjustments. Sen. Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup) summed it up: rent control and unchecked property tax hikes spell disaster for both renters and housing availability. If passed, the bill would take effect immediately—along with the unintended consequences. Read more at Center Square.

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