Washington Income Tax Repeal Gets Major Backing + Seattle Faces Legal Threat Over Race-Based Policy

Washington’s income tax repeal fight is escalating as Initiative 645 heads toward the November ballot and the Washington State Supreme Court considers a major challenge involving the ballot language voters will see.

Former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is urging Washington voters to support Initiative 645 and repeal the state's new 9.9% tax on household income above $1 million. Herrera Beutler argues the so-called “millionaires tax” could eventually expand to more Washington taxpayers, while supporters of the tax argue it is necessary to make Washington’s tax system less regressive.

The Washington Supreme Court is also weighing the legal fight over the Public Investment Impact Disclosure, or PIID, that will accompany Initiative 645 on the November ballot. A five-justice panel considered Arthur West’s challenge but continued the matter for additional consideration, potentially putting the issue before the full Washington Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Seattle Public Schools avoided a teacher strike at the last minute, allowing students to return to classrooms on schedule. But questions remain about what the district agreed to financially as Seattle Public Schools faces a major budget shortfall.

And Seattle is facing a potential constitutional fight over its P-Patch community gardening program. Pacific Legal Foundation is challenging the city's policy of prioritizing certain racial groups for highly sought-after community garden plots and is pressing Seattle officials to change the policy.

Washington in Focus Daily breaks down the latest Washington income tax news, Initiative 645, the Supreme Court ballot fight, Seattle Public Schools negotiations, Washington education spending, Seattle’s P-Patch garden controversy and the latest political and government accountability news from across Washington state.

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