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The Seattle Times’ case against income tax repeal needs correcting
This correction request was sent to The Seattle Times editorial board on 9/23/2026.Seattle Times Editorial Board members,Thank you again for inviting me to discuss Initiative 645. I appreciated the invitation and the lively…
A Boeing strike could give the state’s UI fund a much bigger test
A small and lengthy hotel strike is offering information about a new Washington state policy that allows striking workers to collect unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. A Boeing strike could stress-test it.This year,…
How the natural gas ruling could kill Washington’s income tax
On Sept. 17, the Washington Supreme Court struck down Initiative 2066, the 2024 measure protecting residents' access to natural gas. The reasoning in that 6-3 decision, written by Chief Justice Debra Stephens over a…
Farm income rebounded in 2025
The newest numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show Washington’s farmers and ranchers went from last in earned income in 2024 to 30th in 2025. The data offers some hints about how the rebound happened and why it…
Why lawmakers are going after your pension
Washington lawmakers chose to include teachers’ pensions, police and fire pensions, and the retirement benefits of other public employees in their new income tax. Public pension benefits come nowhere close to the million…
A teacher’s disagreement with WEA shows why public workers need to know their rights
“Public education is a partnership between schools and families.”Travis Reep, a fifth-grade teacher in Thurston County, agrees with that statement from Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. But…
Don’t fall for the illusion of voter control on income tax expansion
I keep hearing the same response when voters raise this obvious concern about Washington’s new income tax: What happens when a future Legislature decides they need more money and lowers the income threshold?Don’t worry, tax…
September 11 reminds us to hold our freedom firmly
New Hampshire’s “live free or die” motto expresses a core value deeply embedded in our culture and our government. People who cherish freedom don’t need large government. They don’t to impose their beliefs with a book of…
Washington state’s response to the Medicaid work requirement emphasizes verification, not expanded employment services
Washington state is preparing to implement federal Medicaid work requirements by Jan. 1, 2027. But the state’s public response so far has not focused on helping recipients find work. Much of its energy has centered on an…
State response to the Medicaid work requirement emphasizes verification, not expanded employment services
Washington state is preparing to implement federal Medicaid work requirements by Jan. 1, 2027. But the state’s public response so far has not focused on helping recipients find work. Much of its energy has centered on an…
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