The theme of the 2025 Legislative Sessions in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming has been pursuing record tax relief. The odd state out in this important tax relief bonanza, however, has been Washington which instead seems fixated on inventing new and even more damaging ways to tax businesses and individuals.
Reviewing the billions in tax increases recently proposed by the majority party in Washington, one can’t help but hear the gleeful cheer of Prince John in Disney’s Robin Hood : “Taxes! Taxes! Beautiful, lovely taxes!” Unfortunately for Washingtonians, some lawmakers have taken this screech from Prince John too literally: “Double the taxes! Triple the taxes!”
According to the Washington Research Council (WRC), here are the details on the Senate’s billions in proposed tax increases: “Senate Democrats released their revenue proposals for the 2025–27 operating budget . They would impose a wealth tax (dubbed the financial intangibles tax) and a payroll expense tax , increase the property tax growth limit , and repeal several tax exemptions . They would also reduce the state sales tax rate from 6.5% to 6% [in 2027]…