Budget & Spending | Future 42

Democracy for Me, Not for Thee: Olympia Targets the Initiative Process

The Legislature has an obligation spelled out plainly in the Washington Constitution: when voters put an initiative before lawmakers, it “shall take precedence over all other measures in the legislature except appropriation bills.” That isn’t some vague suggestion. It’s a constitutional mandate meant to protect citizen power when the Legislature doesn’t reflect the will of...

Olympia’s Latest Power Grab: A State Income Tax Disguised as Something Else

A long-expected bill (SB 6346) from Majority Leader Jamie Pederson (D-Seattle) that would implement a state income tax for Washington has now been introduced. This is despite voters rejecting a statewide income tax more than ten times at the ballot box. And despite lawmakers voting in 2024 to reaffirm Washington’s ban on an income tax....

Serious Allegations, No Answers and DCYF Leader Nowhere to Be Found

The longer Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and its Secretary Tana Senn refuse to speak plainly about serious allegations of fraud and missing oversight records, the clearer it becomes that this is not a communications failure — it is a leadership failure. Multiple investigations and media reports have now documented years of...

SB 6205: A Bill to Crack Down on Housing Grant Corruption

Washington’s housing grant system — designed to help struggling families with things like loans, foreclosure prevention, and home repairs — has instead become a playground for insiders and corruption. Serious whistleblower allegations show state-funded housing grants being steered to people with connections, with at least one case involving a nonprofit official’s daughter receiving $350,000 toward a $425,000...

Seattle Times Op-Ed: Washington state budget – A spending problem?

Nate Nehring, member of the Snohomish County council and Future 42 Snohomish County director, was featured in the Seattle Times with an op-ed about how budget shortfalls are the result over overspending, not a lack of revenue. From the article: Despite the largest tax increase in Washington’s history, we continue to hear from legislators that...

Washington’s Somali-Run Daycare Scandal Raises Serious Questions About Oversight, Accountability, and Taxpayer Trust

A major fraud scandal involving taxpayer-funded daycare and healthcare organizations serving Minneapolis’s Somali community is now raising serious concerns in Washington state. Following an investigation by Ryan Thorpe and Christopher F. Rufo for City Journal and an exposé by citizen journalist Nick Shirley about widespread fraud in Minnesota, evidence is emerging that the same kind...

Airing Grievances — and Looking Forward 🕯️

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of the Future 42 community. This has been a challenging year for many Washington families. Rising costs, concerns about public safety, and growing frustration with the direction of state policy have made it clear that thoughtful,...

Washington’s Rainy Day Fund Ranks 49th — That Matters Now More than Ever

Washington communities are once again facing the reality of severe flooding — homes damaged, roads washed out, families displaced, and local governments stretched thin. First responders, emergency management teams, public works crews, and volunteers across the state have stepped up in extraordinary ways, working long hours to protect lives and property. They deserve sincere thanks...

After $12.5B in New Taxes, Lawmakers Are Already Back for Another Bite

Washington’s budget crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. After more than a decade of explosive spending growth — the kind that consistently outpaced population and inflation — lawmakers in Olympia are now stunned to discover that revenue is falling short of expectations. The surprise is hard to take seriously. When government grows this fast for...

Spokesman Review op-ed: If transparency matters on climate data, Washington state should lead by example

The Spokesman-Review published an op-ed by Jackson Maynard and Todd Myers highlighting Washington’s failure to release legally required greenhouse-gas emissions data — and the lawsuit filed by Citizens Action Defense Fund (CADF) to compel transparency. From the column: For years, state officials have demanded transparency from businesses and individuals on climate policy, but refuse to...

Another Ferguson Transparency Failure Emerges in Center Square Investigation

Recently uncovered records reported by The Center Square expose a troubling pattern: During his time as Attorney General, and now as Governor, Bob Ferguson has consistently fallen short of the transparency and accountability standards he loudly proclaims. In 2023, the Washington State Bar Association opened a confidential investigation into Ferguson’s office of the Attorney General...

Snohomish County Delivered: 60+ New Leaders Elected & $1,000 Tax Hike Defeated!

2025 SNOHOMISH COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS Future 42 Snohomish County, in conjunction with League of Our Own WA, recruited and/or trained 90+ male and female candidates for local office in Snohomish County this year. If current results hold, at least 60 of those candidates will have won their General Election race. A recap is below. In the...

Edmonds City Council to Vote on Raising Sales Tax to Highest Rate in the State

Update: Since the time of this post, the vote on the sales tax increase has twice been delayed. At their public meeting this Wednesday, November 12th at 6:00pm, the Edmonds City Council will be holding a vote on a proposal to increase the city’s sales tax rate for “cultural access” to the arts. This will be...

Your ballot’s here—make your voice count by Nov 4!

Washington voters are making their voices heard in the 2025 local elections. By now, you should have received your ballot in the mail — and this one matters more than most. Local elections decide the policies that hit closest to home: 🏡 Your property taxes — and whether they keep rising faster than your paycheck. 🚸...