OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A lawsuit has been filed over ballot language tied to a proposal to repeal Washington’s so-called millionaires tax.
The challenge focuses on Initiative 26-645, which would repeal the state’s 9.9% tax on annual income over one million dollars and prohibit future taxes on individual income.
Plaintiff Arthur West, who says he signed and circulated the initiative petition, argues the constitutionality of a state law that allows the Attorney General to add language to the ballot after signatures have been gathered.
At issue is a required statement telling voters that repealing the tax would decrease funding for education and human services.
West contends the language is not neutral and could influence support for the measure.
The lawsuit seeks to remove the funding-impact disclosure from the ballot or block enforcement of the law requiring it to appear alongside the initiative.
Mike Faulk, Deputy Communications Director with the Washington Attorney General’s office, told My Bellingham Now in an email “the law ensures voters receive information about initiatives they are asked to decide. We look forward to defending it.”
My Bellingham Now has reached out to Let’s Go Washington—the organization that sponsored IP26-645—and Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs for comment on the lawsuit.
The Seattle Times reported in 2024 Washington Republican Party chair Jim Walsh and Mainstream Republicans of Washington Deanna Martinez filed a similar suit against the state concerning three Let’s Go Washington-backed ballot measures and their fiscal impact statements. That suit was thrown out on the grounds that the challenge was not filed using the proper legal process.
