#WALeg House members have been it at getting close to 20 hours of debate over the Millionaire's Tax....cheering on the members fighting for economic justice, progressive revenue, and a WA that works for everyone. Let's get this passed!
OMG, the WA House is still at it—working to fix Washington’s most regressive in the nation tax system. Dems set up relay teams to carry the fight overnight to wade through R’s 60+ amendments.
Blessed are the live-skeeters!
In an amendment to eliminate sales and use tax on advertising services, which failed, Rep. Briana Thomas shares why she's invested in an economy that works for everyone.
"We are endeavouring to build something that generations after us can point to and say finally they got it right."
#WALeg
Oops, sorry broke my own thread here. The rest of the live thread continues here:
Looking at the list of remaining amendments, it seems we're headed for a long, boring stretch of likely-doomed GOP amendments. I'm going to take a break for lunch and come back later this afternoon once we get closer to final passage 🤞
I grew up in oubkic libraries and know how critical these services are to our neighbors from youth to seniors alike. I'll always have their back! #waleg
@repleavitt.bsky.social's amendment to exempt public libraries, library districts, and library service centers from sales taxes on services passes unanimously. #WALeg
Reeves' final amendment also fails. #WALeg
The same Republican party backing weirdo right-wing podcasters trying to break into childcare facilities to advance their racist conspiracies are now claiming to care about the lack of childcare... yeah right
BTW: GOP Rep Connors is the first person I've seen this morning who isn't chugging coffee
#WALeg Rep. Hill is now reading this quote by famous Science Fiction writer and Washingtonian Octavia Butler:
Natasha Hill: "We've been hearing for many hours, since yesterday in fact, about what this bill means to do: fully fund services & programs working people need"
She says that we need flexibility to respond to problems she sees both on her side of the state and the coast.
MAGA Republican Couture just said that Trump and JD Vance would love this amendment 🤮
I think he might be right, because passing it might kill a bill that would force GOP megadonors to pay what they owe in taxes, and we all know they'd rather cut our health care than let that happen.
That amendment also fails. Reeves' final amendment is a state child and dependent care tax credit.
Rep. Timm Ormsby: "I'm a bit of retirement and pension nerd, thank god there's only a few of us" 😂
Ormsby says this amendment wouldn't be transformational, but would undermine the working families tax credit and schools funding in MT. Calls it a good idea, but not worth the tradeoff in this bill
Reeve's child tax credit amendment fails, her next one creates a state retirement savings tax credit program. Likens it to an "auto-IRA"
Everyone's talking about their kids!
Joe Fitzgibbon says that he understands pressures of parenting & that investing 5% of Millionaires Tax $ earmarked for affordable childcare (Fair Start for Kids) is best way for #WALeg to support working families, rather than this tax credit. Asks for a NO vote.
Reeves college tax credit amendment fails.
Her next one would establish a child tax credit: "Children are really expensive, especially when they eat a lot, and mine eat a lot" Says this would support middle class families.
1 of Rep. Reeves amendments is ruled out of scope, as it concerns property tax, Millionaires Tax is not property tax.
Her next is to add new tax credit for college to list of investments made by the tax. I have no idea what this would cost, so not sure how it would affect K-12 funding in the bill
1. I'm not sure that the rule to allow them to end debate was included again this year (ask @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social)
2. I believe even if that rule were still in effect, it would have to be used & voted on for each amendment. It couldn't be used to stop all debate on all amendments at once.
Rep. Brianna Thomas says this is about supporting public schools, parents, and kids.
"Millionaires tax, again that's income OVER $1 Million, remember the first million is free. We want to make sure the people who can afford to contribute to the structural integrity of our society are doing so."
Rep. Julio Cortez: "Gold bullion is not a necessity, it is an investment asset. Exempting it would take away from the hardworking WA families who would benefit from the investments made by the Millionaires Tax" #WALeg
The #WALeg GOP is currently trying to get a tax cut for gold sellers?
Some GOP quotes:
"If you think of gold you think of Midas, like they're well off, but I guess that's true the bulk of the trading. You'll never have to worry about the average person paying this tax(?)"
"I don't have the data"
That is correct.
It is also an attempt by the WA MAGA GOP to kill other bills that would normally have gotten a vote in the time that this bill is taking up.
This amendment is supported by both parties, since @housedemocrats.wa.gov have always known that MAGA Congress cuts to our health care have made medicine and other care more expensive for working people.
This amendment sails through
#WALeg Republican Engell has an amendment to add other medical providers like radiologists to the list of doctors and hospitals who are getting a reduction in B&O taxes.
He must be tired, because he just admitted that the MAGA Medicaid cuts have caused people to lose health care access 👀
Based on how long it has taken to get through the first 50 or so amendments, our team estimates that the final passage of the Millionaires Tax will happen between 5-7pm today...
To butcher Robert Frost, these folks still have hours to go before they sleep.
A screenshot showing a cartoon glass half full of water, there is a goldfish swimming in it. Below it says the House has been debating for 14 hours and 28 minutes
Just HOW LONG has the #WALeg House been debating?
Our friends at @washingtonea.bsky.social have a tracking site that's slowly filling up a glass one drop of water at a time: www.washingtonea.org/advocacy/deb...
Case in point: Tom Dent (R - Moses Lake) is struggling to keep his eyes open as his Republican colleague talks
If you're curious how these members are still on their feet and talking at least semi-coherently, each party divvied up shifts to work overnight, allowing some members to sleep while others were debating.
Even still, a lot of these folks are running on less than 5 hrs of sleep at this point.
A screenshot showing a cartoon glass half full of water, there is a goldfish swimming in it. Below it says the House has been debating for 14 hours and 28 minutes
Just HOW LONG has the #WALeg House been debating?
Our friends at @washingtonea.bsky.social have a tracking site that's slowly filling up a glass one drop of water at a time: www.washingtonea.org/advocacy/deb...
