Olympia Weekly Report 20200330

Public records reveal Democrats’ plan to impose state income tax

Recent results from legislative public records revealed Democrats plan to use their proposal for a state capital gains income tax to set up a lawsuit in hopes of establishing a state income tax without a constitutional amendment. One Democrat lawmaker wrote in an email, “This will give the Supreme Court the opportunity to revisit its bad decisions from 1934 and 1951 that income is property and will make it possible, if we succeed, to enact a progressive income tax with a simple majority vote.” The Washington Policy Center’s Jason Mercier presents more evidence in his latest article.

Republicans call on Inslee to overturn statewide plastic bag ban amid COVID-19

Republican State Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) is calling for Jay Inslee to overturn a ban on plastic bags recently passed by Democrats during the 2020 legislative session. Democrats’ recent power overreach carries problematic sanitation concerns during the COVID-19 crisis. Mainly, the increased likelihood of spreading the virus via reusable bags compared with plastic bags. Ericksen told KTTH’s Jason Rantz, “Now what we’re finding out plastic bags are one of the things that you want to use to help slow or stop the spread of the coronavirus.”

Inslee’s “non-essential” business ambiguity adds more chaos for construction industry

Jay Inslee’s shelter in place order considers construction as a non-essential business – the high-level of ambiguity associated with his decision has left the industry in chaos. His decision has far-reaching implications for local homebuilders across the states. Joel White, executive officer for Spokane Home Builders Association, told the Spokesman-Review, “The real impact is really on homeowners and the community and the tax base… There are homeowners who were planning on moving in their homes for two weeks and have already sold their existing homes. Now they are left in limbo.”

Resources available to hurting businesses and workers

Businesses and workers across Washington State feel the impact of COVID-19. Those experiencing ongoing economic fallout should understand all emergency relief resources available, including government and relief agency services. Washington State’s COVID-19 resource page for businesses and workers can be found here. Additionally, a recent article in the Seattle Times provides a full list of resources to help hurting businesses and workers.