Update: Washington State’s Millionaires Tax Battle — The Ballot Title

Promoters pushing to repeal Washington State’s 9.9% tax on millionaires in November of this year suffered a loss with the state’s Supreme Court. Arthur West’s lawsuit focused on the wording of the ballot title.

Washington’s Secretary of State’s office used these words to describe I-645’s ballot title: This measure would decrease funding for public K-12 education, higher education

(including universities and community colleges), and human services (primarily

Healthcare).

The court ended up being four to force a change in the ballot title and four not wanting one. No word on what the ninth Justice wanted.

“Given the court was equally divided on ruling as to whether the statute is unconstitutional to begin with is encouraging," West said. "It’s disappointing when you don’t win, but half of the Supreme Court appears to believe that the law is unconstitutional, and the injunction should have been issued.”

West, Let’s Go Washington and other groups contend the ballot title has zero mention of repealing the 9.9% tax on those earning $1 million or more a year.

For now — at least — the ballot title stays as written.

“I’m encouraged because this wasn’t a slam dunk," West concluded. "Four of them thought that the injunction should have been granted."

Source link: The Center Square — https://bit.ly/4A2O71A

Source link: Washington State Standard — https://bit.ly/3UHD8ud