Washington state bill would allow King County to tax big businesses with highly paid employees – By Daniel Beekman (Seattle Times) / Jan 29 2020
Washington lawmakers unveiled a bill Wednesday that would allow King County to impose a tax on big businesses with employees who earn at least $150,000 a year.
The money raised would have to be spent on affordable housing, public-safety needs, homeless services and behavioral-health services.
State Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, who’s sponsoring the bill with Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and King County Executive Dow Constantine asked her to champion the proposal.
The bill had 11 additional co-sponsors Wednesday afternoon — including longtime former House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle — and more could join in.
Macri said the bill also has support from the Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council and from some large Seattle-area corporations. Expedia is backing the bill, a spokeswoman said.
“A coalition has come together on this idea,” Macri said. “The mayor and the executive are taking the lead.”
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