Source: Fortune
Summary
Rick Steves, a travel author and TV host, welcomed the signing of Washington state’s first-ever personal income tax, which imposes a 9.9% tax on individual income above $1 million per year. Steves, who has long advocated for progressive taxation, wrote on Facebook that the new tax is “common sense” and will fund expanded childcare, free school meals, and Working Families Tax Credits. The law aims to address the state’s regressive tax structure, which puts an outsized burden on low-income residents.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. Rick Steves’ enthusiasm for the millionaires tax is a rare voice from the wealthy class. While billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Howard Schultz have threatened to leave the state, Steves is willing to pay his share. The new law’s fate remains uncertain, with looming legal challenges. Yet, Steves’ post shows that not every wealthy Washingtonian is opposed to the tax.
Author: Evan Null
