Well, it’s official. Washington state, in its infinite progressivist wisdom, has decided to wade deep into the regressive taxation abyss and impose an unconstitutional personal income tax. The bill dubbed “The millionaire’s tax,” will be the death nail that finally aligns Washington state with other bankrupt states like California, Illinois, and of course New York; every one of them completely run by progressive Democrats.
As predicted the exodus has already begun; as titans of industry like Jeff Bezos and Howard Schultz, and numerous others have already made their way to the exit ramps, heading east for tax-friendlier climates in states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and South Carolina; and why wouldn’t they? This isn’t just a matter of a few billionaires wanting to keep their hard-earned dollars, they are taking their companies, their innovations, and most importantly, their tax paying jobs with them.
The Washington Democrat leadership believes its misguided financial priorities could be solved by picking the pockets of the very people that drive the economy. The Jeff Bezos and Howard Schultz’s of the world have decided to not cling to the sinking ship that is Washington state. It’s also worth noting, they are simply the tip of the iceberg, as Boeing has not only moved its headquarters from the emerald city years ago, but is incrementally shifting its plane manufacturing, production, and full assembly to plants in South Carolina and Kansas. This is about to get real ugly, real fast; and don’t forget to thank your local Democrats.
South Carolina has been openly courting the plane maker and is in the process of building another 1.2 million square foot final assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner, thus eliminating Washington workers from the process completely. This expansion is expected to increase 787 production from 7 to10 per month: with a potential target of 16 per month in the near future. It’s expected to create at least 3500 new jobs including new construction jobs: all in states other than Washington.
To give you some context of the Democrat fiscal ineptitude, the Boeing company’s total workforce grew by 5.5% in year ending 2025; and despite the increase, Boeings workforce shrunk by 4% last year in Washington state. You don’t need to be a mathematician to see the seismic shift away from Washington’s unhospitable business climate. Washington Democrats continue to find new ways to shoot themselves and its citizenry in the financial foot.
But these companies are not just leaving; they are taking thousands of high paying jobs with them. Jobs that support countless families, immeasurable small and local businesses, and jobs that drive our economic tax base. To be clear, this isn’t about “taxing the wealthy,” as the Democrats like to say, it’s about a fundamental lack of understanding of simple economics by the Democrat establishment. The sheer audacity to brand this as a “millionaire’s tax” is a manipulative attempt to garner support from the useful idiots, while demonizing success.
The economic downturn created by this tax will be felt for decades. Thousands of Washington employees and their families will either be laid off, terminated or forced to relocate, uprooting countless generations of Washington tax paying families. This isn’t just a financial issue for these people; it will become a humanitarian issue that doesn’t end at the state line. The degree of indifference by the Democrat establishment in this state is simply abhorrent.
The argument that this tax is necessary to fund essential public services is a pure canard perpetrated by the same negligent bureaucrats that created this spending frenzy. The fiscal irresponsibility, the wasteful spending, and the inefficient allocation of Washington’s precious resources are all symptomatic of thoughtless progressive policies. Every bit of this financial implosion was self-inflicted by Democrat lawmakers.
So, as the exodus continues and the captains of industry head for the border, let’s remember a few key factors. First, Washington has become a state that discourages wealth creation and punishes success. Second, the so-called “millionaires’ tax” isn’t just a tax on millionaires; it’s the progressive trojan horse for wealth redistribution, which will most certainly pull Washington closer to the rocky shore of economic collapse. Third, and probably the most repugnant of all, this is what happens when ideology and ignorance are elected to office, and they choose to sacrifice communal prosperity for personal and political gain.
Washington’s Democrat lawmakers have effectively told our most productive citizens, just like the states of New York, California and Illinois have, to take their talents and their treasure to states that actually value their civic contributions. And guess what? That’s exactly what they’ve done. At the time of writing this column, New York Governor Kathy Hochul was speaking at a Politico event, cup in hand, begging those that already fled New York for West Palm Beach to come back and contribute to New Yorks financial calamity. You simply can’t make this stuff up.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer
