Brian Heywood loses again: State Supreme Court rules million dollar earners tax is constitutionally exempt from referend

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referendum

Right wing mega-millionaire Brian Heywood’s attempt to subject Washington’s recently enacted million dollar earners tax to a referendum ended in failure today when the state Supreme Court denied his request for a writ of mandamus asking the judiciary to invalidate the Legislature’s declaration in Section 1208 and direct the Secretary of State to process a proposed referendum on the law, known as Senate Bill 6346.

“ESSB 6346 undisputedly generates revenue for the state’s existing institutions and hence is similarly subject to the ‘support of state government’ exception to the referendum power in article II, section 1,” the Court held in an order signed by the Chief Justice, Debra Stephens. “The petitioners’ argument that the legislation is not necessary to support state government overlooks the similarities between this bill and the revenue generating measures we have consistently held are exempt from referendum.”

“Our inquiry into whether the measure is subject to referendum under article II, section 1 is limited, and as noted, it does not concern the policy merits of ESSB 6346 or whether it is subject to constitutional challenge,” the order went on to say.

The justices’ closing paragraphs then reiterated:

“Consistent with the words of the constitution and our unbroken line of precedent, we hold that ESSB 6346 falls within the exception for laws that are ‘necessary for the… support of the state government’ and not subject to referendum under article II, section 1. Accordingly, a writ of mandamus may not issue because the Secretary of State has no mandatory, nondiscretionary duty to process the petitioners’ proposed referendum.”

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2026/05/brian-heywood-loses-again-state-supreme-court-rules-million-dollar-earners-tax-is-constitutionally-exempt-from-referendum.html

Pay your fair share or move to another state loser.