Brace Yourself: Washington Taxes Set for a Shocking Surge!
Brace yourselves, Washington! The tax man is coming, and whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, your wallet is about to take a serious hit. You might not even see it coming, but here’s the hard truth—you’re part of the problem.
This week, Governor Jay Inslee has announced a spending freeze for state agencies, but let’s be real—this is just a last-ditch effort to clean up the mess he and his Democrat friends created. Earlier this year, he painted a sunny picture of our financial future, declaring the state was in good shape. But now, he’s scrambling to manage a massive “operating deficit” that’s spiraling out of control.
But don’t be fooled: this spending freeze is nothing more than political showmanship. Sure, it’ll halt nonessential hiring and travel, but it’s just a tiny band-aid on a gaping wound. With a projected operating budget shortfall of $10 to $12 billion over the next four years, this freeze is like trying to extinguish a raging forest fire with a mere bucket of water.
So, where will the Democrats and Governor-elect Bob Ferguson turn to fill this enormous gap? Your bank account.
Why is Washington facing new taxes?
Get ready, because Governor-elect Bob Ferguson and his Democratic allies are gearing up to hit you with even more taxes. Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, you’re in for a rough ride. Get ready for property taxes to skyrocket, fees to rise, and costs to trickle down to renters—it’s all coming your way.
If you found yourself spending more than you earned, you’d probably rethink your choices, right? Maybe you’d cancel that unused gym membership or cut back on your shopping sprees. But guess what? That’s not how things work in Olympia. Their solution to overspending? Take more of the money you’ve worked hard to earn.
Inslee’s spending freeze is just a setup for Ferguson and his crew to roll out new taxes. They’ll claim they exhausted all other options—Look! We stopped ordering office supplies!!—and use that excuse to squeeze even more from our pockets. And they’re not even trying to hide it; they’re just spinning tales.
“We should be taxing wealthy individuals and corporations that can afford to contribute more to the services that we all benefit from as a community,” said Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle.
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Don’t fall for the ‘tax the rich’ trap… oh wait, liberal voters will
The tired mantra of “wealthy individuals should pay their fair share” is just that—a tired mantra. At least Pedersen is clear about wanting to target those who “can afford to pay more.”
But here’s the kicker: the “wealthy” already contribute a significant chunk of tax revenue. They are taxed disproportionately compared to what they receive in return. To Democrats like Pedersen, if you can afford to shell out more, you’re considered rich. And if you think they’ll stop at targeting just the ultra-wealthy, think again. Those billionaires are not enough to cover the Democrats’ insatiable appetite for spending!
Democrats believe they know how to spend your money better than you do. It’s a strange stance, especially since we’re facing this financial deficit due to their reckless spending habits.
They used temporary COVID-19 relief funds to justify ongoing new expenditures. They keep introducing one program after another to fulfill their ideological commitments, often neglecting the very communities they claim to help. They throw money at problems rather than addressing the root issues—and since it’s not their money, they’re less concerned about the waste.
And yet, Washington voters keep giving them the green light.
Washington voters are paving the way for new taxes
Can we really blame a drug user when we hand them the fentanyl? If Washington voters keep signaling their approval for new taxes, can we blame the Democrats for going after our wallets?
Voters recently shot down initiatives aimed at cutting taxes—the very taxes Washingtonians were complaining about, like the outrageous gas prices. And what message did that send to the Democrats? That we’re perfectly fine with higher taxes.
“Certainly… that’s the most recent data we have from voters, right? Is the election results,” Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins said.
What taxes are on the horizon for Washington state?
Prepare yourself, because Washington Democrats are poised to ramp up spending, and their plans to salvage Seattle Public Schools—which are grappling with self-inflicted issues—will give them all the justification they need for new tax proposals. Since state law demands a balanced budget without relying on new revenue, you can expect steep but temporary budget cuts followed by new tax legislation to fill the gap and then some!
We’ll likely see another push for a wealth tax. It might be unconstitutional, but when has that ever stopped Washington Democrats? They have an ideologically aligned State Supreme Court that has already disregarded the constitution by pretending a capital gains tax isn’t an income tax, even though it’s very much an income tax.
They’ll probably also allow local governments to raise the property tax cap from the current 1% to 3%. The Association of Washington Cities is already shopping around their proposal to see which Democrats will jump on board. There’s even chatter about a bottle tax, similar to Oregon’s.
Bills are already being pre-filed, so keep your eyes peeled for legislation that could impact your tax bills. But before you start grumbling, ask yourself: Did you contribute to the situation that allows Olympia to take more of your hard-earned money in the last election?
Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.
