Unions Mobilize to Defend Washington's High-Earners Income Tax
What happened
Bob Ferguson approved new taxes for the state budget that affect state employees in Pierce County. Public-sector unions are now spending millions of dollars to keep the high-earners income tax in place and fight an initiative seeking to repeal it. The No on Initiative 645 campaign has raised $7.8 million, significantly outpacing the $1.3 million raised by the Yes campaign.
Why it matters
The tax is described as a self-sustaining money machine for the interests that fund it. The high stakes involve influential public-sector unions, whose members' jobs, salaries, and services depend on the tax dollars flowing into the state budget.
Who's involved
- Bob FergusonApproved new taxes for the state budget.
- Pierce CountyCounty where state employees are affected by the new taxes.
- stateThe government entity implementing the new tax.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Washington Department of Fish and WildlifeSpeculative
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife might face instability in funding access due to the potential repeal of the new tax.
Keep exploring
The entities involved
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Pierce County
county in the state of Washington, United States
Nothing else this week.
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Bob Ferguson
Governor of Washington since 2025