Money and muscle for a fight on new taxes

Plus UI for striking workers gets a haircut, the parking wars come to a head and more bill action on health care, public schools

Democrats in the Legislature are fixing to gore some oxen, and the owners of those cash cows look ready to fight back at the ballot box.

A few weeks ago, we made this observation about the possibility of a ballot measure fight over new taxes likely to emerge from the Legislature this year. 

“When Corporate America goes to the ballot, they bust out the big checkbook and hire a crew of ruthless mercenaries to scorch the earth.”

Enter, stage right, a new ballot initiative committee called the Washington Coalition for Responsible Taxes and Spending, which shares some DNA with People For An Affordable Washington, the committee lobbying against major new taxes on big business and the ultra-rich. Its initial spending disclosure from last week makes for interesting reading.  

Paid signature-gatherers could be hitting the streets within weeks. (Image courtesy of Shutterstock)