The 100-Year court ruling that could kill Washington’s income tax
Washington Democrats passed a state income tax after a 25-hour floor fight. Rep. Jim Walsh and Rep. Hunter Abell explain why a century-old Washington Supreme Court decision could make it unconstitutional.
In this compilation, Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Abell, R-Inchelium, break down the central legal problem with the proposal: Washington’s Constitution already treats income as property.
For nearly a century, the Washington Supreme Court’s ruling in Culliton v. Chase has made that clear. Under Article VII of the state constitution, property taxes must be uniform.
Walsh and Abell argue the new income tax violates that standard and opens the door to a major constitutional fight.
Watch key moments from the floor debate as lawmakers clash over:
• Whether income is legally property under Washington law
• The uniformity requirement in Article VII of the state constitution
• The century-old precedent of Culliton v. Chase
• The economic and legal risks of changing Washington’s tax structure
After more than 25 hours of debate, House Democrats still moved forward with the proposal. Now the constitutional battle may be headed to the courts.
