School funding scheme could force an income tax

When I was elected to represent Central Washington, I came to Olympia to advocate for families and kids who too often get overlooked by policies written with only Puget Sound in mind. I may be a newer voice in the Senate, but I've already seen how quickly political agendas can outrun common sense. Nowhere is that more clear than in the effort to shift school funding back onto the backs of local taxpayers.

This year's Legislature gave local school districts authority to ask voters for billions of dollars more in property tax levies. That might sound like a boost for schools, but in reality, the...