Four of the bill hearings scheduled on February 14 in the Washington State Legislature involve new ways for your taxes to go up

Donald Kimball
Washington Policy Center

When it comes to money, it looks like the state legislative session is taking a note from comedian Jackie Mason, who admitted, “Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.” And there is a LOT of that kind of love in the air around the Capitol lately!

As we approach Valentine’s Day, the holiday of romance, what better way for the legislature to show its affections than by spending this Valentine’s Day dreaming up ways to take more of our money into their hands.

Four of the bill hearings scheduled on February 14 involve new ways for your taxes to go up. The bills include an increase in local property taxes, new wealth taxes, removing restrictions on property taxes, and even an increase in the death tax. 

With all these potential increases on the horizon, you might have to opt for the single rose and fun-sized chocolate box this year for that special someone. At least you can take solace in the fact that since true love is all about sacrifice, Olympia is poised to make you become a more loving person this Valentine’s Day.

Four bills scheduled for a Valentine’s Day hearing: 

• Increasing local property taxes
• Wealth taxes
• Removing property tax uniformity clause
• Massively increasing death tax

Donald Kimball is the communications manager, free markets destroy lead and tech exchange editor at the Washington Policy Center.

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: Transit agencies need accountability not increased state subsidy
  Charles Prestrud argues that Washington transit agencies face rising costs and declining ridership due to governance structures that lack public accountability.
• 
  Letter: ‘For years, American foreign policy too often felt like a blank check’
  Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi argues that the 2025 National Security Strategy marks a long-overdue shift toward clearer priorities, shared responsibility, and interest-based American leadership.
• 
  POLL: Are you better off than you were a year ago?
  This week’s poll asks readers to reflect on their personal financial situation and whether they feel better off than they were a year ago as economic conditions continue to shift.
• 
  Opinion: Does tailgating cause speeding?
  Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl examines whether tailgating contributes to speeding and explains why following too closely increases crash risk with little benefit.
• 
  Opinion: ‘The Democrats’ part of the bargain’
  Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance reflects on a New Year’s Eve encounter and a Bill Maher commentary to assess what he sees as cultural and political changes from the past year.