WSJ: Washington State’s Income Tax Con

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board again covers the Washington State income tax and how the supposed tax on millionaires
will inevitably capture the middle class.

Democrats say the tax plan is popular but then why are they including a provision to prevent it from being overturned by voter referendum? Bill section 1107 says the tax imposed by the act “is necessary for the support of the state government and its existing institutions.” According to the Washington Policy Center, the Washington Legislature Bill Drafting Guide says that a “necessity clause” or “emergency clause” protects legislation against voter referendums.

Republicans in the minority can’t stop the bill, but they did their parliamentary best to slow its passage with proposed amendments that put lawmakers on the record on key issues. By Tuesday Democrats had rejected more than 50 amendments to the bill, including one to require a constitutional amendment to allow a state income tax.

Once the state’s constitutional guardrails come off, middle-class Washingtonians know tax-and-spend Democrats will be coming for them next. That’s what happens in every state that has introduced an income tax. Spending soars with the new revenue, and politicians demand even higher taxes. The rate starts low, or at a high level of income, but the rate inevitably gets higher and the income threshold lower. It’s a slow form of fiscal suicide.

Read the full article at the Wall Street Journal.

Photo: State Sen. Manka Dhingra, TVW