Almost Every WA Senate Democrat Supports The Millionaires Tax — The Four Holdouts Are Not Surprising

An impressive 26 Democrat Washington State Senators signed on as co-sponsors of Majority Leader Sen. Jamie Pedersen’s (D-Seattle) long-anticipated millionaires tax, the official text of which officially went live on Tuesday morning. That means just four Senate Democrats have not pledged their support and it’s exactly who you would expect — Sens. Adrian Cortes (D-Battleground), Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island), Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), and Deborah Krishnadasan (D-Gig Harbor) — more moderate caucus members, three of which were the only Democrats to vote “no” with Republicans on the wealth tax last year. 

In emails to The Burner, Cortes and Krishnadasan echoed the sentiment of Gov. Bob Ferguson, who wasted no time saying he would not support the bill in its current form. He argued the proposal should funnel a “significantly bigger percentage” of revenue “back into the pockets of Washingtonians” via an expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit and a wider range of sales tax exemptions. 

Cortes and Krishnadasan both signaled appreciation for the proposal's attempt to reform Washington’s regressive tax structure. Readers of The Burner will know that a regressive tax structure means that poorer people pay a higher proportion of their income in taxes than richer people. 

But they both expressed doubt, like Ferguson, over whether the proposal provided enough relief. 

“I appreciate the proposal addresses our regressive tax system, but I want to ensure this bill provides relief for working families and small businesses that they can feel,” Cortes said in an email statement to The Burner. 

Similarly, Krishnadasan said, “I support tax reform that moves us toward a fairer, more progressive system. Right now, families in my district are struggling to put food on the table and keep up with the rising cost of living. If we are going to truly address our regressive tax system, we need to lighten their tax burden as well.”

Both promised to listen to feedback, stay engaged during upcoming negotiations, and evaluate the bill in its final form. In the same vein, a spokesperson for Liias said Liias wants to hear public feedback and learn more about the bill as it moves through the legislative process before making a decision about the “new and complex policy.”  Hansen did not respond to my request for comment.

The rhetoric of Ferguson, Cortes, and Krishnadasan sounds familiar. It borrows heavily from the language of Washington’s pro–progressive taxation coalition and emphasizes the very real burden the state’s regressive tax system places on working people.

But that framing obscures a simpler reality: these lawmakers do not yet support the most high-profile progressive revenue proposal of the session. And unless lawmakers raise more revenue than the roughly $3 billion generated by the millionaires tax — revenue that is already being eyed to stabilize a deficit-strained budget — expanding tax credits and exemptions could force trade offs elsewhere, including cuts to social services.

Those who want greater tax relief for working people could maintain the bill’s current allocation to the general fund by calling for a higher tax rate on millionaires, eliminating the hefty corporate tax breaks within the bill, or backing additional progressive revenue measures, such as a payroll tax. These four haven’t done that yet! 

(I’ll give Krishnadasan some credit. She seems to be consistently “about it” when it comes to lowering the tax burden on working people. She’s sponsoring bills to cut the state sales tax and expand property tax relief for seniors and those with disabilities)

But really this just seems to be more politically savvy branding for a position some of these lawmakers have long held. Hansen, Liias, and Krishnadasan have shown their aversion to progressive revenue before, most recently when they voted against Sen. Noel Frame’s wealth tax (SB 5797). They were the only three Democrats to break with the party on the issue. 

Cortes voted in favor of the wealth tax last year. But with his first re-election after flipping his district blue just around the corner, he may feel the pressure to moderate. The others also represent more moderate districts and face re-election later this year. And fairly credible rumor has it that Liias has his sights set on higher office.

While negotiations are ongoing, even if Cortes, Hansen, Liias, and Krishnadasan ultimately refuse to support the bill, it likely will not change its trajectory in the Senate. With 26 co-sponsors already on board, Pedersen has the votes he needs to advance the measure.

But Ferguson is a much more meaningful obstacle. Ferguson has already signaled he is prepared to block progressive revenue proposals he views as politically or fiscally misaligned, and Democrats lack the votes to override a gubernatorial veto. If history is any guide, the governor’s objections are not a negotiating posture — they are a warning.