TUMWATER, WA – Today, Let’s Go Washington turned in 419,699 signatures for Initiative 2109 (I-2109) that would repeal the income tax on capital gains and 437,950 signatures for initiative 2111 (I-2111) that would prohibit income taxes including at the city and county level.
As Jeff Bezos is packing up and moving his residence and future tax revenue to Florida, more than 400,000 ordinary, over-taxed, Washington voters sent a loud message to Olympia that they don’t want any income tax in the Evergreen state – capital gains or otherwise.
Washington voters have directly voted down an income tax 10 times at the ballot box over the past 100 years.
“How many times do voters need to tell lawmakers to stop with income taxes once and for all?” said Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington. “Once politicians’ budgets take a hit from people like Bezos taking their money to Florida, who do you think will be the target of the next big tax? Small business owners, homeowners, young entrepreneurs, hard-working restaurant and family farm employers and regular, hardworking taxpayers.”
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) laid out his strategy for a back-door income tax in an email discovered by the Washington Policy Center. Referencing the email, Heywood said, “Not only does the income tax on capital gains not have a legal leg to stand on, but in their own words, it’s the foot in the door for a statewide income tax. It’s time to shut the door on this for good.”
Let’s Go Washington reported broad bi-partisan support for both initiatives in their voter analysis. Of those signing I-2109, 53 percent are Democrat or Independent voters while 55 percent of those signing I-2111 are Democrat or Independent voters.
The voter advocacy group recently surpassed their total signature goal of 2.52 million signatures across six initiatives but will continue to collect signatures up until Dec. 27th. They expect to turn in signatures for their final initiative, which would make the mandatory long term care payroll tax optional, after the Christmas holiday. More details on the initiatives can be found at letsgowashington.com.
BACKGROUND:
“I would veto anything that heads the wrong direction and the wrong direction is new taxes in the state of Washington” – Jay Inslee – October 11, 2012
“… I don’t believe that tax increases are the right, uh, route forward for our state.”
Jay Inslee – At a campaign debate hosted by KING-TV on October 16, 2012
“But the more important benefit of passing a capital gains tax is on the legal side, from my perspective. The other side will challenge it as an unconstitutional property tax. This will…make it possible, if we succeed, to enact a progressive income tax with a simple majority vote.” Sen. Jamie Pedersen
