Seattle’s arbitrary and unconstitutional tax on achievement

PLF’s Harold Johnson hosts a discussion with PLF Senior Attorney Brian Hodges about the city of Seattle’s new money making scheme that is certain to effect all Seattle taxpayers.

The City of Seattle enacted an income tax targeting those making in excess of $250,000 per year with a 2.25% tax rate, setting a 0% rate for everyone else. Sold as a “wealth tax,” the City’s income tax aims to punish achievement and success, while threatening poor and middle class families who could fall subject to new city, county, and state taxes if Seattle’s actions go unchallenged.

In a complaint filed on behalf of several Seattle residents, PLF argues that the City knowingly violated the law and is attempting to subvert its citizens’ rights by seeking to exclude ‘income’ from the state constitutional protections for property.