State Elections Update

Newly elected to the legislature (to fill out terms):

• Legislative District 13 State Representative Pos. 2 - Alex Ybarra  (R)
• Legislative District 40 State Senator - Elizabeth (Liz) Lovelett  (D)

Statewide measures:

• Referendum Measure No. 88, to restore racist preferences, is failing, although the margin appears close.  This, despite support from former governor Gary Locke and leftists in King, Whatcom and Jefferson  counties.  If there is a need for a re-count, look for King County to discover many uncounted ballots.
• Initiative Measure No. 976, to restore car tabs to $30 per year, is passed.

The advisory votes on 11 of the new taxes enacted by the legislature show a general rejection on increasing taxes. Exceptions are

• Advisory Vote No. 23, the tax on vaping products is approved.
• Advisory Vote No. 28, "narrowing" the nonresident sales and use tax exemption is approved.
• Advisory Vote No. 31, new tax on international investment is approved.

~~~~Other matters ~~~~

State Supreme Court to hear Seattle income tax suit

The Washington State Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of Seattle’s income tax on high earners. Questions include whether Seattle’s income tax on high earners can be implemented, whether a lower court’s decision allowing a uniform tax across all earners should stand, and whether income qualifies as property. If the Supreme Court sides with the City of Seattle, it will overturn a 90-year-old legal precedent that classifies income as property. Currently, the precedent serves as a roadblock to imposing an income tax anywhere in the state.

State Senator Ron Muzzall
Muzzall – a Whidbey Island farm owner and a former fire commissioner – was appointed to replace retiring State Senator Barbara Bailey in Washington’s 10^th Legislative District.  Republican Ron Muzzall (muh-ZAHL), discusses his background, taxation, and the mental health crisis in an interview with Washington Wire’s Michael Goldberg.  Muzzall will join the Senate Republican Caucus for the 2020 legislative session.

State Supreme Court ruling applies law retroactively

In a controversial decision, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that Initiative 1501 – a voter-approved measure that prevents the release of the personal contact information of in-home caregivers – applies retroactively to a public records request made by the Freedom Foundation. The ruling overturns a decision made by a lower court to allow the release of the public records as the Freedom Foundation filed the request before the law came into effect.