It took over 24 hours of grinding floor debate, but Democrats in the Washington House approved an income tax Tuesday on households earning over $1 million a year.

Democrats have the votes to push through their proposed 9.9% income tax on household earnings over $1 million a year. For Republicans at this point, the main way to oppose the policy, which they despise, is to saddle the bill with many amendments. 

Richland School District is seeking feedback from its community on future facilities a little more than a year after voters rejected a $314 million bond to build a new high school and other projects. 
 

As it stands, data center operators in most Washington counties do not pay the 6.5% sales tax on server equipment. That equipment is typically replaced every three to five years, and current law exempts sales tax on purchasing new or replacing old server equipment. It also doesn’t apply sales tax to labor hired to install the equipment. 

Democrats in the Washington state House released a revised income tax proposal Friday that drives more money into early learning programs, increases assistance for lower-income families, and eliminates sales tax on a greater number of consumer products.

A national auto parts retailer that a year ago had to pay more than $160,000 in illegally eliminated sick time to its Washington state employees must now pay millions for discriminating against employees. 

Democratic members are withholding support for the proposed income tax on millionaires, saying they want to see if a new version of the controversial legislation, expected on March 5, will satisfy their concerns.

The city of West Richland is hoping some questions on a touchy subject will draw residents into completing its latest annual survey. 

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson warned March 3 that the income tax Democratic state lawmakers are pressing to approve in the next nine days might have to wait until next year. 

One of the primary Hanford site contractors has paid millions of dollars to the departments of Justice and Energy as part of a settlement resolving allegations of fraudulently overcharging DOE for labor costs.