Why let hardworking small businesses thrive when Olympia can grab another billion for its pet projects?

Democrats Tax the Little Guy (Again)

Today, Senate Bill 5814 (SB 5814) goes live, introducing a crushing new sales tax on services that were previously untaxed—from freelance IT consulting to small event planning and temp staffing agencies. This 6.5% baseline tax, with local add-ons pushing rates as high as 10.5%, is already wreaking havoc on over 90,000 small businesses that simply don’t have armies of accountants to navigate this compliance nightmare.

The tax hits nearly everything: advertising, software development, live events, and temporary staffing (with hospital temp staffing the rare exemption). For small firms, compliance alone could cost $5,000–$10,000 a year in software and consulting fees, according to the 2025 NFIB analysis. Meanwhile, mega-corporations like Comcast can absorb it—or sue, as they already are—leaving Mom-and-Pop shops to foot the bill.

The economic fallout is wide-ranging. Rural businesses—from Walla Walla event planners to Yakima security firms—face the steepest hits, while online services that previously sidestepped physical nexus are now fully taxable. Prices on website builds, party planning, and other essential services are set to rise, fueling inflation in a state already dealing with a 4.2% cost-of-living spike.

Supporters tout “fairness,” claiming SB 5814 levels the playing field with goods sales taxes. The reality? This is pure government gluttony, prioritizing state coffers and pet programs over the very entrepreneurs who drive Washington’s $800 billion economy. The downstream consequences are already apparent: business dissolutions are ticking up, and small firms are scrambling just to survive.

If Washington wants to remain a hub of innovation and opportunity, policymakers must prioritize real tax and regulatory reform—reducing B&O burdens, avoiding punitive targeting of industries, and ensuring rules don’t stifle investment. Until then, SB 5814 is nothing more than a billion-dollar handout to Olympia at the expense of the people who actually create jobs.

The message is clear: without repealing SB 5814, Washington risks punishing its small businesses while Democrats pat themselves on the back for “fairness.” Innovation and entrepreneurship shouldn’t be collateral damage for Olympia’s budget bloat. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

Spokane’s Progressive Leaders: More Taxes, More Talk, Maybe a Jail

Spokane officials, led by Mayor Lisa Brown and Sheriff John Nowels, announced a new regional task force this week to explore a jail and related criminal justice projects—even though voters rejected a $1.7 billion jail proposal in 2023. Backed by a mix of city, county, business, and nonprofit leaders, the “Safe & Healthy Spokane Task Force” promises public meetings and an action plan by spring, likely including a hefty tax proposal.

The region’s two aging jails, overcrowding issues, and ongoing opioid and homelessness crises create real challenges. But, despite these real problems, Brown’s progressive city council leans toward shelters and services rather than building more jail capacity. Meanwhile, previous proposals showed that countywide sales tax hikes would cost residents money while raising far more than the actual construction cost—a classic case of overkill.

Task force members include health experts, law enforcement, financial analysts, nonprofits, and business reps. They’ll meet monthly until spring, aiming to present solutions that balance criminal justice reform, mental health services, and cost-effectiveness. In other words: plenty of studies, lots of talk, and another chance for taxpayers to foot the bill—all while voters watch the sausage-making in real time. Read more at Center Square.

Ferguson’s “Reform”—Now With Extra Buzzwords

Governor Bob Ferguson’s latest “reform” is the executive order creating Your Washington, a program meant to replace Jay Inslee’s flopped Results Washington initiative. Promising efficiency, accessibility, and customer satisfaction, the program will be led by former investigative reporter Jesse Jones—someone with a track record of holding people accountable, which is a refreshing change from the usual bureaucratic shield.

The Washington Policy Center notes that the real test will be whether agencies actually deliver meaningful results, or just shuffle paperwork to appear compliant. Jones and his team face three major challenges: meeting timelines (120 days to produce customer experience metrics and progress reports), ensuring the metrics are meaningful (not just enforcing existing laws and calling it progress), and creating real accountability when agencies fail. Past experience, like the state Department of Health’s abysmal COVID tracking performance, shows that government staff often declare failure as success with no consequences.

The WPC emphasizes that Your Washington must make it safe to fail—but not safe to ignore results. Ferguson’s credibility is on the line: if he doesn’t hold agencies accountable when goals are missed, the program risks becoming yet another bureaucratic fig leaf, just like Results Washington. Without serious follow-through, Your Washington could end up as nothing more than a shiny new name for old government excuses. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

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