As the clock ticks down on the legislative session and a potential vote on a new income tax, Republicans say it should be up to the voters to decide
As the clock ticks down on the legislative session and a potential vote on a new income tax, Republicans say it should be up to the voters to decide on a millionaires tax. A last-minute amendment seeks to do just that.
State Rep. Ed Orcutt, a Republican from Kalama and the ranking minority member on the House Finance Committee, said his top priority is an amendment that would require the legislation to go before voters at the next general election.Orcutt’s proposed change would remove the bill’s “necessity clause” and instead direct the Secretary of State to submit the act to the people for “adoption or ratification, or rejection,” according to the amendment text. In an interview Thursday, Orcutt argued that the bill should not be insulated from a referendum, particularly because the tax would not begin until 2028. He said a necessity clause functions similarly to an emergency clause by blocking the referendum route and forcing opponents into a more demanding initiative process. Orcutt argued that public testimony at a hearing on Tuesday highlighted voter concerns. “I think that clearly says that this needs to go out to a vote of the people. Let the people be the absolute decider of this issue. It's been out in front of them 11 times before. They've always rejected it. I think they'll reject it again. But I think that's a message that the state legislature needs to get from the people,” he said. Orcutt also said he introduced a separate amendment after hearing concerns about how the tax could affect rental income. That proposal would require taxpayers to deduct rental income from Washington real property when calculating “Washington base income,” whether the rental income is received dire entity. During the same interview, Orcutt said stakeholders had approached him with multiple requested changes as the bill moved on a fast timeline, and he was trying to get amendments drafted and filed before deadlines.Rep. April Berg Everett, would add a “tribal income” exemption covering certain income tied to treaty rights and other specific circumstances for members of federally recognized tribes.Auburn man allegedly beat mother to death after argument about school, finances A 30-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the killing of his mother after deputies found her dead inside an Auburn condominium.New data shows the state of Washington is still struggling to attract and retain police officers.As a precaution, Public Health is recommending that about 130 people associated with the school be evaluated for TB.Passengers arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport described being caught in the middle of gunfire and burning vehicles.
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