1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Dear Governor Ferguson, I urge you to veto the proposed income tax bill. This legislation goes directly against the will of the people of Washington. Voters have repeatedly rejected income taxes, and Initiative 2111 clearly reaffirmed that Washington should not impose an income tax. Moving forward with this policy disregards the expressed voice of the public. I am also deeply concerned about the way public input has been handled. Many people submitted comments opposing this bill but were not able to appear in person due to public speaking anxiety or scheduling limitations. Ignoring those written “con” votes simply because individuals did not testify in person is unethical and dismissive of legitimate public participation. Additionally, the bill contains no binding language guaranteeing the tax will remain limited to income above $1,000,000. Without firm restrictions, there is nothing preventing future expansion of the tax to lower income levels. That lack of protection is deeply concerning. There have also been no meaningful spending cuts or fiscal reforms presented alongside this proposal that would justify implementing such a tax. Washington should first address spending before creating entirely new taxation mechanisms. Finally, this proposal appears to conflict with the Washington State Constitution and with Initiative 2111, which voters approved specifically to prohibit income taxes. Passing legislation that contradicts both constitutional principles and voter-approved initiatives undermines public trust. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to veto this bill. Sincerely,