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According to Democrats, it’s not a tax hike—it’s just your civic duty to fund their spending spree.
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Raising the Roof (and Your Taxes): Democrats Try to Rebrand a Tax Hike as a “Misunderstanding”
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Democrats in Olympia are back at it—this time trying to spin a property tax hike as a mere public relations problem. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen is shocked—shocked!—that people are alarmed by the idea of scrapping Washington’s long-standing 1% property tax cap and replacing it with a scheme that could allow increases up to 3% annually, or more if inflation spikes.
The cap was originally voter-approved back in 2001 and quickly reinstated by the Legislature after a court tossed it out. But hey, voters’ wishes are so early 2000s. Now, Democrats say local governments are “handcuffed” and need more of your money, even if that means you might need to budget for an extra $2,000 a year on housing costs, whether you own or rent. (Because landlords always just eat those costs, right?)
Republicans called out the proposal for what it is: a backdoor way to hike taxes with no real cap at all. Senate GOP Leader John Braun warned that tying property taxes to inflation could lead to double-digit increases in bad years. But Democrats insist the horror stories are overblown—unless, of course, you live in a $5 million house. (And if you don’t? Well, just trust them—it’ll be fine.)
To sugarcoat the plan, Democrats are dangling tax credits for seniors and veterans and pushing rent control as their moral shield. But don’t worry—they’re not soaking you, they just think you don’t understand how taxes work.
Bottom line: If you feel like you’re being taxed out of your home, don’t be mad—Pedersen thinks you just need an explainer video. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.
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Wealth Tax, RIP: Democrats Abandon Their Favorite Talking Point (For Now)
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After hyping a wealth tax all session, Democrats now admit it’s dead—quietly dropped from the budget after Gov. Ferguson warned it was legally risky and politically toxic. Leaders Pedersen and Fitzgibbon sheepishly blamed “disappointment” among members, but the retreat is clear.
They also backtracked on raiding the rainy day fund, with Fitzgibbon awkwardly hedging while Pedersen claimed otherwise. Meanwhile, Republicans are being shut out of budget negotiations, as Democrats hole up behind closed doors and call it “transparency.”
So much for the open government and bold tax reform they promised—turns out the only thing getting taxed this session is the public’s patience. Read more at Center Square.
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Union Tantrum Meets Budget Reality: Democrats Eat Their Own
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Hundreds of state workers stormed the Capitol demanding a wealth tax to save their jobs from Ferguson’s furlough plan—only to find the governor conveniently working from Seattle. Union leaders, once proud backers of Ferguson’s campaign, now call him a “pseudo Democrat” and a “ratfink” for daring to propose one furlough day per month. Protesters chanted outside his office and later marched to the governor’s mansion, furious that their 5% raises might be wiped out by unpaid days off.
Meanwhile, Ferguson insists he “values” state workers—just not enough to meet with them. Senate Democrats want 13 furlough days; House Democrats want none but haven’t said how they’ll pay for it. The unions, naturally, prefer squeezing taxpayers over facing any cuts themselves, regardless of the $16 billion budget hole.
In the end, it’s a classic clash: Democrats breaking promises and unions outraged they’re not getting everything they demanded. Read more at the Washington State Standard.
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Seattle Times Runs With ICE Panic—Turns Out It Was Just SPD SWAT
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The Seattle Times stirred up unnecessary alarm by reporting that an ICE vehicle was spotted outside a West Seattle middle school. Except—it wasn’t ICE. It was an SPD SWAT vehicle, part of a citywide push ordered by the Mayor’s Office to boost police visibility at schools following recent violence.
ICE officials confirmed to The Jason Rantz Show that none of their vehicles were in the area, and SPD said the unmarked vehicle was likely there to support nearby Chief Sealth High School, which has experienced serious incidents, including a fatal shooting.
The Times didn’t verify the sighting with local ICE before running with it, instead emailing a national contact early in the morning—ensuring a delay that let misinformation spread. ICE doesn’t loiter in unmarked vans outside schools; they do targeted enforcement and identify themselves.
All of which means the real threat here wasn’t federal immigration enforcement—it was sloppy journalism. Read more at KTTH.
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