Rep. Joshua Penner: The new income tax is a tax on all Washingtonians
Rep. Joshua Penner, R-Orting, delivered a floor speech outlining his opposition to Senate Bill 6346, which proposes a new state income tax. He centered his argument on a stark warning to the public, stating that this legislation is not just a tax on millionaires but on all Washingtonians.
During his remarks, Penner pointed out that the bill’s plain text contains no restrictions preventing future legislatures from expanding the tax to everyone. Because the current deduction threshold can easily be lowered, he argued, it is only a matter of time before everyday citizens are forced to pay. He also highlighted the state’s pattern of rapid spending, noting that even as state revenues have doubled since 2016, the government continues to outpace its budget and demand more from taxpayers.
Penner also criticized the rejection of several bipartisan amendments that would have provided direct, meaningful relief to those most impacted by the state’s already high tax burden. By passing this bill, he warned that Washington would cement its status as having some of the highest sales, business, and income taxes in the nation, cautioning his colleagues that the government’s demand for revenue would never be satisfied.
