Howard Schultz in the WSJ: Will Washington State Choose Stagnation Over Growth?
Starbucks founder Howard Schultz is warning that Washington risks sacrificing future growth by becoming increasingly hostile to businesses and entrepreneurs. In a new Wall Street Journal op-ed, Schultz argues that rising taxes, runaway state spending and anti-business leadership threaten the economic foundation that helped make Washington prosperous.
Washington used to be a favored destination for entrepreneurs because state leaders understood the vital role businesses play in creating jobs and sustaining a tax base that enables government to operate. Companies like Boeing, Microsoft, McCaw Cellular, Paccar, Amazon, Costco and Starbucks helped define Washington’s economy and create opportunity across generations.
Lately, however, Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Democrats who rule the state capital have chosen to burden businesses with one tax increase after another. They recently ratcheted up a revenue-based business-and-occupation tax that penalizes growth and profitability. Meanwhile the biennial state operating budget has grown from $33 billion ($46 billion in 2025 dollars) in 2013-15 to $80 billion in 2025-27.
Corporate leaders and small entrepreneurs are concerned about the antibusiness statements and tax proposals of Seattle’s inept new mayor, socialist Katie Wilson. But the problem is bigger than Seattle.