Affordability

February 09, 2024

STATEMENT: Budget leader glad to see Democrats drop proposed property-tax increase

OLYMPIA…Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver and Senate Republican budget leader, offered this comment after learning the proposal to allow local governments to raise property taxes by up to 3% annually without a vote of the people will not move any further this legislative session. The Democratic senator who is prime sponsor...
Read More
February 02, 2024

E-News: Upset about the ‘climate’ charge on your utility bill? There’s an initiative for that

If you’re a customer of NW Natural and were shocked by the “WA Climate Act Fee” on your bill, you are not alone. On top of Washington’s artificially high prices for gasoline, this is another consequence of the partisan cap-and-trade law that was adopted in 2021 and would be repealed...
Read More
January 23, 2024

STATEMENT: Republican budget leader says I-2109 certification is path to another public vote on income tax

OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver and budget leader for the state Senate’s Republican caucus, made this statement today after Initiative 2109 was certified by the secretary of state. I-2109 would repeal the tax on capital-gains income approved by the Legislature’s majority Democrats in 2021; unless enacted by lawmakers during their...
Read More
January 16, 2024

STATEMENT: Capital-gains tax still on track for review, says budget leader

OLYMPIA… One way or another the fate of Washington’s tax on capital-gains income will be decided this year, predicts Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver and budget leader for the state Senate’s Republican caucus. She offered this reaction today after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the Washington Supreme Court’s 2023...
Read More
January 13, 2024

Session gets under way, massive tax hike already being proposed

When I and other budget leaders met with news reporters to preview our session I spoke about the need to be conservative about appropriating the billions of dollars collectively generated by the capital-gains income tax, the long-term care payroll tax and the cap-and-trade law, because those sources would go away...
Read More
December 22, 2023

E-News: Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hello Friends and Neighbors, You’re probably busy with holiday-related things so I’ll make this brief. The next legislative session begins two weeks from Christmas Day – that’s Monday, January 8. To repeat the invitation made in my previous e-newsletter, I’d like to hear any ideas you have for legislation. After...
Read More
December 13, 2023

Governor’s spending proposal continues worrisome trends, says Republican budget chief

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee’s new supplemental budget proposal continues the same worrisome trends of the decade he has been in office, said Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “The good news is that the governor isn’t proposing any new taxes,” Wilson said....
Read More
November 22, 2023

E-Newsletter: Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

November 23, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, While the next legislative session won’t begin until January 8, the prep work is already under way. Earlier this month several members of our Clark County legislative delegation visited the Fort Vancouver clinic operated by Fresenius Medical Care, where we talked with staff and...
Read More
November 20, 2023

NEWS: Year’s final revenue forecast should end talk of new taxes

OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson is viewing 2023’s final quarterly forecast of state-government revenue as yet another reason to take a firm line against tax increases in 2024. “There’s no budget deficit on the horizon. It was confirmed today that government has more than enough revenue to maintain services and programs....
Read More
September 26, 2023

STATEMENT: Senate budget leader sees mixed signals in new state revenue forecast

VANCOUVER… While the state revenue forecast adopted today keeps government’s revenue picture comfortably on the plus side, Sen. Lynda Wilson is keeping an eye on a growth projection that is noticeably lower than any time outside of the Great Recession earlier this century. Wilson, R-Vancouver, is Senate Republican budget leader...
Read More