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Second lawsuit filed challenging ballot language on millionaire’s tax repeal

Second lawsuit filed challenging ballot language on millionaire’s tax repeal

The Legislative Building in Olympia, WA. Photo: Saga Communications/Ellie Coberly


OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A second lawsuit has been filed over ballot language for Washington’s proposed income tax repeal initiative.

Last week, Olympia-based open government activist Arthur West challenged the state’s Public Investment Impact Disclosure law, arguing government-written language is improperly added to initiatives after signatures are gathered.

Now, initiative-backer Let’s Go Washington has filed a separate challenge focused on the disclosure wording for Initiative 26-645.

The state-approved disclosure said repealing the new tax on high-income earners would decrease funding for education and human services.

Let’s Go Washington argues the tax wouldn’t take effect until 2028, so repealing it now would save money.

The group wants a judge to rewrite the disclosure to say the measure would increase funding.

The revised language would appear on the November ballot if the challenge succeeds.

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