KKNX: WA Democrats push for capital gains tax in a year when ‘tax’ doesn’t seem like a bad word

Democrats say the system isn’t working and often point to a 2018 study by the liberal Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) that ranked Washington as having the most regressive tax system in the nation. The study found that the lowest 20 percent of earners in Washington spend nearly 18 percent of their income on taxes, compared to the top one percent who spend just three percent.

Advocates for change are also framing tax reform in the context of racial justice and equity — which have become top priorities for Democrats. Last month, the left-leaning Washington State Budget and Policy Center, citing ITEP data, called on state lawmakers to “tackle our racist, upside-down tax code.” Read more