Radio Report: Democrats pass massive tax increases, record spending, and adjourn 2025 session

April 27, 2025

Lawmakers in Olympia wrapped up their business Sunday, passing operating, transportation, and capital budgets before adjourning their 2025 regular session. As John Sattgast reports, the 105-day session was one for the history books, as majority Democrats passed record-high budgets supported by massive tax increases.

CORRY: “Taxes, taxes, taxes!”

SATTGAST: House Republican Deputy Leader Chris Corry of Yakima summarizing the session.

CORRY: “The majority party has just pushed forward the largest tax increase in Washington state history. It has been 105-days of House Republicans fighting for every-day Washingtonians.”

SATTGAST: Nine-and-a-half billion dollars in new taxes, ranging from higher business taxes, sales taxes on services, estate taxes, even higher fees for fishing and hunting licenses, and the Discover Pass. House Republican Budget Leader Travis Couture.

COUTURE: “The budget negligence of the past, where we once had a 15-billion-dollar surplus, but now face a 15-billion-dollar deficit, will be solved and balanced on the backs of hard-working Washingtonians. That’s wrong.”

SATTGAST: Whether Governor Bob Ferguson signs or vetoes the tax increases is anyone’s guess. In the meantime. . .

CORRY: “People need to re-engage with their Legislature across this state and remind your elected officials that we cannot continue taxing like this and that you need tax relief, not tax increases.”

SATTGAST: John Sattgast, the state Capitol.