Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on high earners are looking to fight the law on a couple of fronts: on the ballot, and in court.  

And last week, Citizens Action Defense Fund, a conservative nonprofit, filed a legal challenge to the tax in Klickitat County Superior Court, claiming the tax violates the state’s constitution. 

We talk to one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in that suit against the so-called “millionaires tax.” 


Guest

Rob McKenna, former Washington State Attorney General, 2012 Republican candidate for governor

Related Links

New lawsuit challenges constitutionality of Washington’s ‘millionaires tax’- KUOW

Opponents sue to block WA’s new ‘millionaires tax’ - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Opponents of Washington&rsquo;s new income tax on high earners are looking to fight the law on a couple of fronts: on the ballot, and in court.&nbsp;&nbsp;
And last week, <a href="https://citizenactiondefense.org/about/">Citizens Action Defense Fund</a>, a conservative nonprofit, <a href="https://citizenactiondefense.org/app/uploads/2026/04/WA-State-Income-Tax-Complaint.pdf">filed a legal challenge</a> to the tax in Klickitat County Superior Court, claiming the tax violates the state&rsquo;s constitution.&nbsp;
We talk to one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in that suit against the so-called &ldquo;millionaires tax.&rdquo;&nbsp; 
Guest
Rob McKenna, former Washington State Attorney General, 2012 Republican candidate for governor
Related Links
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/new-lawsuit-challenges-constitutionality-of-washington-s-new-millionaires-tax">New lawsuit challenges constitutionality of Washington&rsquo;s &lsquo;millionaires tax&rsquo;</a> <a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/sarah-mizes-tan"></a>- KUOW
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/opponents-sue-to-block-was-new-millionaires-tax/">Opponents sue to block WA&rsquo;s new &lsquo;millionaires tax&rsquo;</a> - The Seattle Times
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

At the center of the argument is a Great Depression-era state Supreme Court ruling.