WPC NEWS: Your taxes aren't high enough! New document reveals entrenched mindset for more taxes.

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AFFORDABILITY

State Senate Majority Document:
Washingtonians aren't taxed enough

Leadership of Washington State Senate Democrats have circulated a communications document arguing that people are simply not paying a large enough share of their income to taxes. They assert the state is being "defunded" because state revenue as a percentage of “total personal income” has declined over 20 years, from a historical 6-7% to approximately 5%. The document attempts to push back against the mounting opposition from Washingtonians who want relief from the state's relentless tax increases. Budget & Policy Director Ryan Frost breaks it down here.

While the Puget Sound Region's Sound Transit is sucking up billions of tax dollars for an ever-dimminishing public "benefit", the rest of the state is facing a maintenance funding backlog of more than a billion dollars a year.

King County Metro lost about six bus riders for every light rail rider Sound Transit gained. Not only is total transit ridership in the region lower today than it was in 2019, it’s also lower than it was fifteen years ago! This suggests that building costly light rail extensions is not an effective way to increase ridership or improve overall regional mobility. The destinations served are too few, the rail lines duplicate existing bus service, most light rail trips are indirect and require transfers, and the public cost is very high, so high that last August Sound Transit was forced to admit the ST3 plan wasn’t affordable.

Read why instead of sparking a celebration, Sound Transit's recent opening of 3 new light rail stations in South King County should spark reflection on and a re-evaluation of, our state's transit plans and costs.

TAKE ACTION:
TELL LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR TO OPPOSE NEW TAXES

Automatically email a "No New Taxes" message to the governor, your state senator and your state representatives using the form on WPC's TAKE ACTION page. Fill out the form and your state legislative delegation is automatically identified for you. Edit the draft email to reflect your voice and point of view, then click send and your message will be delivered to your two state representatives, your state senator and the governor.

In 2025, lawmakers passed the biggest tax increase in state history, but lawmakers are already talking about adding more. Meanwhile, Washington state’s business tax climate has deteriorated significantly, falling from 6th best in 2014 to 5th worst in 2025. And with taxpayers leaving the state at a rate of one every 30 minutes, we can't afford to keep the pattern of reckless spending going! Visit the Take Action page today and urge your friends to do the same!

TAKE ACTION

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Despite Historic Tax Hikes – Washington State Faces $4.3 Billion Deficit
By Ryan Frost
A new budget forecast shows how Olympia's addiction to spending is driving up a deficit, even after massive tax increases.
READ MORE

Mayor-Elect Wilson Believes Scarcity is Unnatural
By Donald Kimball
Seattle's new socialist mayor-elect could use a refresher on wealth and poverty.
READ MORE

Is the Cheap Fast-Food Burger a Thing of the Past?
By Mark Harmsworth
By raising minimum wage costs, lower-income individuals get priced out of affordable food options.
READ MORE

MORE HEADLINES

HOW MANY HAVE YOU SHARED?

How many people you know would guess that Washington ranks 45th -- near the bottom -- for business taxes? Or that our state operating buget increased almost 49 percent (AFTER adjusting for inflation and population control) since the 2012-2015 budget? The legislative session is coming up quickly. To make informed decisions about how to best govern our state, we must acknowledge where we are. WPC's Report Card for Washington's Future gives you the data you need to cut through rhetoric and see where our state needs course correction.

GET THE FACTS

RYAN FROST NAMED BUDGET & POLICY DIRECTOR

Nationally recognized financial analyst Ryan Frost has been named Director of Budget and Tax Policy at Washington Policy Center (WPC). As Washington prepares to enter the 2026 Legislative Session facing significant shortfalls despite ten-figure historic tax hikes last spring, Frost will be a vital addition to WPC’s research team, leading WPC’s Center for Government Reform.

Read the full press release here!

FEATURED VIDEO

How Fast is Washington Losing Taxpayers?

A new report shows that people are leaving Washington state for lower tax environments. National Taxpayers Union Foundation's Andrew Wilford joined Washington Policy on the Go to explain.

ADORBABLE KIDS take action in Olympia!

After WPC dropped off the first 27,000 signatures to the Governor's office during the last legislative session, another 10,000 or so came in, so I took my daughters to the Capitol Building to help deliver the next batch and teach them the importance of making your voice heard.

By embracing free-market principles in our research and initiatives, WPC provides the knowledge and tools you need to actively shape positive outcomes in our state. Together, let's pave the way towards a prosperous future for all Washingtonians and make Washington a place of opportunity for younger generations.

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