Washington’s payouts — known as tort liability — have skyrocketed from $72 million in fiscal year 2018 to more than $281 million last fiscal year.

A new state law introduces a tiered capital gains tax and increases the estate tax rates for high-value estates.

The warning from the Democratic governor comes amid an increasingly gloomy budget outlook and underscores that the state’s financial difficulties are not over.

The bill squeaked through the House by a single vote, with only Republicans in support. Washington state's two Republicans, U.S. Reps. Michael Baumgartner Dan Newhouse, of Sunnyside, both voted for it. Both their districts have the highest proportion of Medicaid enrollees in Washington. 

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a two-year state budget and a tax package to produce billions of dollars in new revenue.

The bills included one sponsored by a Kennewick Republican that will help students pay for college. They did not include, however, the budget and tax bills that must be signed by May 20. 

Politicians may earnestly believe their actions will have no repercussions but they do. The issue is not which tax or fee increases. It is about the total impact on taxpayers, businesses and the family budget.

The Washington Legislature recently adjourned after passing the largest tax increase in state history, and small businesses are going to bear the brunt of it.

Lawmakers, lobbyists and business leaders are all watching to see what the governor does. Ferguson, just four months on the job, is aware of the acute interest and seems determined to keep folks in suspense right up until May 20.

Business tax hikes make up more than half of the roughly $9 billion package, which still needs a sign-off from Gov. Bob Ferguson.