Rep. Stephanie Barnard: Washington should be a place where the future is built, not buried
Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, delivered a floor speech outlining her opposition to Senate Bill 6346, which proposes a new state income tax. She anchored her speech in the reality that the tax will inevitably expand to burden all working Washingtonians.
During her remarks, Barnard pushed back against the narrative that the tax will only impact millionaires. She warned that the threshold will slide lower over time, eventually forcing everyday citizens to bear the cost. She highlighted the critical role that the targeted taxpayers play in the state’s economy, noting their everyday contributions to business growth, research and development, job creation, and charitable giving.
Emphasizing the state’s overall tax profile, Barnard argued that implementing this policy will scare off new investments and drive existing businesses out of Washington. She closed her speech by urging her colleagues to protect the state’s economic environment, calling for Washington to remain a place where families thrive, innovation grows, and the future is built rather than buried.
