WA Income Tax Faces Business Backlash Ahead of November Vote + Repeal Fight Heads to Supreme Court

Washington's battle over the new income tax is escalating as an appeal over the ballot language for Initiative 645 heads to the Washington Supreme Court. Arthur West is seeking expedited review after a Thurston County Superior Court judge rejected his challenge to the Public Investment Impact Disclosure that will accompany the income tax repeal initiative on the November ballot. Critics argue the disclosure is biased and inaccurate, while supporters of the tax contend voters should understand the potential impact of repealing it. Meanwhile, Washington has paid more than $565,000 in unemployment benefits to workers involved in labor disputes since the beginning of the year. Critics are raising concerns about the impact on the state's unemployment insurance fund and whether employers could eventually face higher costs. And as Washington voters prepare to decide the future of the state's new 9.9% income tax, business owners are joining the campaign for repeal. We hear from Olympia Master Builders President Gina Carlson and revisit former Democratic Rep. Larry Springer's comments about whether future legislatures could expand the tax beyond its current $1 million threshold. We break down the court battle, taxpayer implications and political fight ahead of Washington's November election on Washington in Focus Daily. #WashingtonState #WashingtonPolitics #WashingtonNews #IncomeTax #WashingtonIncomeTax #IncomeTaxRepeal #Initiative645 #I645 #WASupremeCourt #SupremeCourt #Taxes #Taxpayers #StrikingWorkers #UnemploymentBenefits #LaborUnions #WashingtonBusiness #SmallBusiness #Election2026 #GovernmentAccountability #WashingtonInFocus #CenterSquare