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this is The Latest, your source for news impacting affordability, accountability and opportunity in the State of Washington.
Why lawmakers are going after your pension
Washington lawmakers chose to include teachers’ pensions, police and fire pensions and the retirement benefits of other public employees in their new income tax. Public pension benefits come nowhere close to the million dollar incomes the tax supporters keep talking about, yet lawmakers devoted 14 sections of the law to revising public pension statutes so the state could tax and collect from retirement benefits.
For those paying attention, it's very clear why this is the case. The only conclusion a rational person can make is that lawmakers built this tax in preparation for the deduction coming down.
A teacher’s disagreement with WEA shows why public workers need to know their rights
Reep is a father of four, an elected local union representative and a WEA member. He disagrees with WEA’s opposition to I-001. But when Reykdal and the teacher's union put out material opposing the initiative, his voice is not being adequately represented.
Don’t fall for the illusion of voter control on income tax expansion
If a future Legislature decides the $1 million threshold is too high, voters do not get a vote. Lawmakers can lower the threshold whenever they want to. The “say” voters are being promised comes afterward, when somebody has to raise the money, collect hundreds of thousands of signatures, and run a statewide initiative campaign to try to undo what the Legislature already did. That is an astonishing thing to gloss over when you are assuring voters that they will “always have the final say.”
CORRECTION: Last week, the link to the story below was incorrect.
It is corrected here for your convenience.
We apologize for the error.
Dues & Don’ts: WFSE demands a ‘fair’ contract — but workers and taxpayers can’t see the numbers
Washington law excludes collective-bargaining sessions from the Open Public Meetings Act, allowing the governor’s negotiators and union representatives to bargain outside public view. That secrecy is especially consequential because public-sector unions also participate in politics.
A lot is being said about Washington's new income tax -- but in order to separate the truth from lies and exaggerations from real dangers, you need to hear Washington Policy Center's Budget and Tax Director, Ryan Frost, among the state's foremost experts on this issue. Ryan will share a brief presentation on SB 6346 and the implications of passing or repealing it with plenty of time for your questions.
Make sure your vote is an educated vote. Register below or reach out to [email protected] with any questions you may have.
He lost his home and his faith in city leadership, so he ran for office.
WPC is pleased to announce our rescheduled 2026 Eastern Washington Policy Dinner will now feature recent Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, whose passion for good governance in the wake of the LA fires made national news. Don't miss our November 6 dinner program at the Spokane Convention Center. Tickets and sponsor opportunities available below.
We know Washington's future is in trouble. We want opportunity for our children and grandchildren. We want our families to grow and share and build experiences together here. But opportunity is shrinking. Iconic companies are freezing investments and expanding elsewhere. We need to stand together and demand a return to the policies that brought prosperity to our state. We cannot yield to an income tax that shrinks our future. Help get control of the reckless spending and seek better policy solutions for Washington. Add your voice to ours and donate and become a member of Washington Policy Center.
