August 19th, 2025
In this issue:
- Opinion: The Millionaires Tax is a win for the working class: Vote no on I-645
- WA revenue officials: Millionaires tax will bring in more money than first expected
- Parents worry WA developmental disabilities program is about to get axed
- What the Millionaires Tax would mean for Washington
- Ranked: U.S. States With the Widest Wage Gaps
A new report ranks Washington as having the fourth-biggest wage gap in America. It’s another data point confirming what we already know: The people at the top are doing very well in Washington. We have resources to fund the healthcare, child care, and education that we need, but our tax code is letting us down. The Economic Opportunity Institute called our situation a “double-whammy.”
“…by under-taxing high-income households, the state’s tax code reduces available state revenue; by overtaxing low- and middle-income households, the people who can least afford it foot more of the bill for public services. This is part of why Washington’s tax revenue perpetually falls short of what is needed.”
Now, Initiative 645 threatens to make that problem even worse.
The initiative, funded by mega-millionaire Brian Heywood, would blow a $13 billion hole in our state budget — putting K-12 education, healthcare, human services, and higher education at risk.
We can’t let that happen. And we can’t defeat I-645 without people like you.
What’s one little thing that you can do to defeat I-645? Take our quick poll now!
In solidarity,
Ben, Invest in WA Now
OPINION: THE MILLIONAIRES TAX IS A WIN FOR THE WORKING CLASS: VOTE NO ON I-645
In Wenatchee, we have such a booming diversity of people, and all of us are working towards a stronger community. So many are hard-working people fighting for what they deserve. A handful of mega-millionaires are trying to convince hard-working people like us that we will do better if we overturn the Millionaires Tax this fall, but we know we need the tax relief more than millionaires do. It’s time for them to pay their fair share. I encourage everyone to vote NO on I-645.
More – Stacy Apolinar, The Wenatchee World
WA REVENUE OFFICIALS: INCOME TAX WILL BRING IN MORE MONEY THAN FIRST EXPECTED
A new analysis from the state Department of Revenue shows Washington’s high-earner income tax will be paid by thousands of additional households and produce hundreds of millions of dollars more than previously assumed — if voters don’t ditch it this fall.
These larger figures will be in front of voters as they decide whether to repeal the tax in the Nov. 3 election. If voters uphold the tax, it could mean lawmakers need to make fewer cuts to balance the next two-year budget.
More – Jerry Cornfield, The Washington State Standard
PARENTS WORRY WA DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM IS ABOUT TO GET AXED
Parents believe the program, costing about $900,000 a year, is invaluable, and can’t be replicated or recreated if state funding disappears.
“We fill in the gaps for areas where government really can’t provide this kind of support,” said Stacy Dym, executive director of The Arc of Washington State, an organization advocating for people with developmental disabilities. The Arc oversees the statewide program under a contract with the state Department of Social and Health Services.
More – Jake Goldstein-Street, The Washington State Standard
WHAT THE MILLIONAIRES TAX WOULD MEAN FOR WASHINGTON
State revenue still relies too heavily on sales and property taxes. As a direct result, low- and middle-income households pay a far higher share of their income in state taxes than high-income households do.
In 2025, the top 20% in Washington received nearly 59% of total state income and paid an average of just 6.1% in state and local taxes. The bottom 80% received just over 41% of total state income and paid an average of 10.5% in state and local taxes.
More – Aaron Keating, Economic Opportunity Institute
RANKED: US STATES WITH THE WIDEST WAGE GAPS
California, Massachusetts, and New York form a clear top tier, with wage gaps of nearly $98,000 or more. The gap then falls to $90,640 in fourth-ranked Washington.
More – Bruno Venditti, Visual Capitalist
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