Center Square: WA Democrat income tax supporter questions 'necessity clause' nixing public vote
(The Center Square) - A Democratic lawmaker who voted in support of Washington’s new income tax said he didn’t see anything scandalous in this week’s revelation of emails showing coordination between the office of Attorney General Nick Brown and crafters of the legislation for a “millionaires’ tax”. But he wants a discussion about a wider income tax that isn’t just for people making more than $1 million a year.
As reported by The Center Square, the documents show efforts to skirt a vote of the people and push the issue to the State Supreme Court in hopes of overturning more than 90 years of legal precedent.
Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, told The Center Square though he supported the final bill as passed, he has major concerns about the impact on small businesses and about bypassing a vote of the people.
“It is a hot button. I mean, it’s like a third rail of politics,” he said. “When that is the case, then you should err on the side of giving everybody their say, one way or the other.”
The Kirkland Democrat made headlines during the legislative session when he said Washingtonians should not believe backers of the income tax who say it will remain only a tax on the wealthy.
In Thursday’s interview, Springer reiterated that he expects should the income tax is upheld by the courts, it will be expanded to lower income earners.
“Any given legislature cannot bind the next legislature. They can do whatever they want. The next legislature can change that pretty easily. So, there’s never going to be a guarantee,” Springer said. “I happen to believe that an income tax is a more fair, equitable, progressive tax. And so, the notion that this could be expanded to others…. there’s the precedent at the federal income tax level.”
Springer said he did not see any issues of concern with the AG and income tax supporters emails to convince him there was anything inappropriate in that collaboration.