There are no free lunches

Before the new state income tax passed by Democrats was even proposed as legislation, many of us who oppose such a tax predicted the supporters would engage in a game of bait-and-switch. They'd market an income tax as applying only to the wealthy, knowing all along the real goal would be to have everyone pay.

Do they think the people of Washington are fools, I asked – and now that the income tax is through the Legislature and awaiting Governor Ferguson's formal endorsement, it's clearer than ever that the answer is yes.

An early hint came when the prime sponsor of the Senate version of the inc...