washington business
Editorial Scorecard
Reject effort to give unemployment benefits to striking workers in WA
Funded by businesses, the state’ s unemployment insurance trust fund has for decades been devoted to a core mission: Aid those who have become jobless through no fault of their own.
Diverting unemployment benefits to striking workers will weaken an important social safety net, embolden more labor stoppages and introduce new risks to Washington’ s economy at a time the state cannot afford them.
— The Seattle Times editorial board, March 5, urging lawmakers to reject a bill that make striking workers eligible for unemployment insurance payments. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 5041 passed into law.
Taxes and More Taxes in Washington State
State lawmakers have proposed several new tax measures as part of the state budget. The possible menu includes a payroll tax that would raise $ 6.9 billion, a property tax, a capital gains tax, a business and occupation tax and a plan to repeal tax exemptions for an extra $ 1 billion a year, according to the Washington Research Council’ s review of the Senate’ s version. There’ s also a proposal for an online dating tax, one dollar a month for residents looking for love.
All of this is meant to stand in for Democrats’ original wish for a state wealth tax projected to bring in about $ 12 billion over four years. Democrats conceded on Wednesday that the wealth tax— which would create“ a tax on stocks, bonds, and other financial intangible assets for the benefit of public schools”— is dead for now.“ There’ s definitely some disappointment among many of our members that that particular tool is not going to be part of our budget solution this year,” House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon said.
This is a bullet dodged for Washington, and progressives should take the lesson before they resurrect it...— The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, April 13
WA’ s just-passed budget has some troubling, costly bugs
The lefty leadership of the House and Senate Democrats is celebrating what they’ ve achieved for special interests. Among them: extending jobless benefits to striking workers and rent control, and passage of a budget that maintains raises for state workers and imposes the biggest tax hike in state history...
It didn’ t have to be. Democratic leaders put themselves in this predicament by ignoring the revenue forecasts of their own economists and budgeting with fantasy over the years.— Kate Riley, Seattle Times editorial page editor, May 2
‘ It’ s unbelievable’: Digital agencies slam new sales tax law in Washington as legal challenge looms
Last week, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5814, which expands Washington’ s retail sales tax to include advertising agencies, software development firms, IT support providers, and other digital service businesses.
It’ s one of several new taxes on businesses aimed at addressing the state’ s $ 16 billion shortfall.
Starting in October, these companies will be required to collect sales tax— more than 10 % in the Seattle area— on their services.
Curtis Costner, president of Sands Costner, a digital marketing firm based in Tacoma, said the tax could prompt clients to seek out-ofstate providers.
“ It makes it harder for local businesses to work with other local businesses,” he said.— Taylor Soper, GeekWire, May 28 special edition 2025 5