Washington’s first-ever income tax cleared a key House committee Friday morning on a 9 to 6 vote.
Republicans tried again, but failed to stop the bill from advancing. It passed the House Finance Committee despite a warning from Puyallup Republican Representative Cyndy Jacobsen.
“Capital flight is not a myth. People who make this kind of money are able to leave; they often have domiciles in other states that they can just change their address to,” she said.
Supporters, like Tacoma Democratic Representative Sharlett Mena, argued a tax on high-income earners is about fairness.
“It does so by addressing a fundamental inequity in our tax system, one that currently asks working families to contribute a greater share of their income than the ultra wealthy,” she said.
The highly contentious bill would impose a 9.9% tax on Washington residents earning more than $1 million, beginning Jan. 1, 2028.
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