Carl Higbie sharply criticized a newly passed tax measure in Washington state, arguing it violates the state constitution and will drive high earners out of the state.
“To cover their spending addiction,” Higbie said, referencing what he described as the motivation behind the legislation.
“Last night, the democrat majority state senate passed 27-22 two Democrats joined all the Republicans in voting against this bill, what they’re calling a millionaire tax.”
Higbie explained the structure of the proposal.
“It’s an income tax on household revenue household, not singular of more than a million dollars a year, and that’s going to be at 9.9%,” he said.
He argued that the tax conflicts with Washington’s constitution.
“Which on its face is in fact a violation of the state constitution, which states in Article Seven, section one quote, All taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property. The word property as used herein shall mean and include everything, whether tangible or intangible, subject to ownership,” Higbie said.
He noted a past state Supreme Court ruling.
“And since in 1933 the Cullen versus Chase Washington Supreme Court ruled that income is in fact considered property, so a graduated state income tax like they’re proposing would in fact violate their state constitution,” Higbie said.
Higbie contended that lawmakers structured the bill to avoid a constitutional challenge.
“So Democrats, they don’t like listening to the Constitution, so they essentially did an end run around the Constitution. Very, actually crafty,” he said.
“What they did pay attention to this the way they wrote this to avoid a constitutional challenge, which they’ll probably get anyway, but they quietly made this a tax on everyone of all incomes, but made a $1 million deduction for everyone, so only people making over a million dollars would actually see any payments toward this.”
He predicted the tax would not have its intended effect.
“Here’s what’s going to happen in Washington State. Millionaires have millions of dollars, and they have the ability to leave, and they just will, just like they are in New York and California, and in Washington’s case, they’re going to Idaho,” Higbie said.
“And if you think they won’t, they already are.”
Higbie cited migration data.
“Washington last year had a net loss of almost 8000 people above the median income to Idaho and the Democrats, they only have themselves to blame on these policies,” he said.
He described Washington’s political leadership.
“Washington’s government is all demo universally Democrat controlled. Democrats have held the governor’s office for 45 years. The State House and the State Senate has Republicans outnumbered almost two to one by Democrats,” Higbie said.
He also pointed to cost-of-living rankings.
“And they are with that leadership, third highest in gas prices, sixth highest in grocery prices, fourth highest in housing prices in the nation,” he said.
Higbie contrasted those figures with Idaho.
“But Idaho, on the flip side, that have been super strong Republican for over 30 years in all their governmental bodies, they’re one of the lowest tax states in the nation,” he said.
“Gas is 30 to 40% cheaper. It’s the 10th most affordable state to live in, and a house cost about half the same as it does just west of their state line in Washington, proving to you that Democrats make everything cost more.”
He concluded with a broader political message.
“You cannot tax your way out of liberalism,” Higbie said.
“I’m not saying Republicans will fix all your problems, but at least they generally don’t create new ones and will tax you less while they do it. Friends don’t let friends vote Democrat.”
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