Initiative sucesses and the comng balllot battle on others

The legislature saw fit to repeal some of their own laws.  The People submitted initiative to the legislature.  The Democrats looked at the polls and realized that to keep their jobs, they better go along with the People's will.  (Who would mind if the Democrats were turned out of state government anyway?)

So the legislature enacted the following initiatives.

Initiative 2111 prohibits the state and local jurisdictions from imposing taxes on any individual person on any form of personal income.  The initiative specifies that "income" has the same meaning as "gross income" as under the federal tax code.

Initiative 2113 expanded authorization for vehicular pursuits by allowing an officer to conduct a vehicular pursuit where there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law.

Initiative 2081 declared 15 rights that parents and guardians of public school children have, including rights to receive or be notified of academic, medical, safety, and law enforcement matters; rights to examine and inspect certain materials and records; and rights to opt their children out of certain activities.

The initiatives will become law, taking effect about three months after the session ends, unless a referendum is filed. The last day of the session is Thursday.

Source - Seattle Times

The legislature has declined to act on certain Initiatives of the People.  These are

I-2109 The Initiative to repeal capital gains tax   The capital gains tax was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021.  It took effect on January 1, 2022.  Revenue from the tax was set to be deposited in the education legacy trust account and the common school construction account.  This initiative would repeal the 7% capital gains excise tax imposed on sales and exchanges of long-term capital assets by individuals with capital gains over $250,000.

Capital gains taxes suppress the willingness of investors to make large investments.  The rental housing industry is one example. 

I-2117 - Which will repeal carbon cap-and-invest program  & prohibit carbon tax credit trading.  Under this all state agencies are prohibited from implementing any type of carbon tax credit trading, also known as "cap and trade" or "cap and tax" scheme.  It includes the climate commitment act previously codified as chapter 70A.65 RCW.  This prohibition applies whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. 

This has implications to this year’s supplemental spending.

I-2124, the initiative to opt-out of long-term Services Insurance Program. Instead, the law would change to requires employees and self-employed individuals to opt-in to coverage under the state's long-term services and supports trust health care program.  It would allows anyone to opt out of coverage at any time.  The Employee Security Department (ESD) would be responsible for developing rules to implement the opt-out process.  

The existing Long-Term services and supports trust program was created in 2019.  The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act (LTSS) created the first state-operated long-term care insurance program, known as the WA Cares Fund and is funded through a mandatory payroll tax on employees' wages.

Source - Washington Policy Center