Challenge lost; Washington Supreme Court fractured over income tax repeal fight

The useful part

Investment Impact Disclosure (PIID) statement to accompany I-645 on the Nov. I-645, backed by Let's Go Washington, seeks to repeal the recently passed income tax on those who make more than a million dollars a year, or combined household income above that threshold. Activist Arthur West challenged the PIID, arguing the statement crafted by the office of Attorney General Nick Brown was inaccurate and biased.

How it works

• "Right around 3:30 today, the clerk issued an order denying the motion, but they said due to an equally divided court, the commissioners ruling is not modified," said West in a Thursday afternoon phone call...
• "They said Justice Johnson, McCloud, Whitener and Angelis voted to grant the motion and issue an injunction.
• Chief Justice Stephens, Gonzales, Mungia, and Melody voted to deny the motion to modify." West said there was no mention of Justice Montoya-Lewis, leaving the court equally divided four-to-four on the issue.
• "Given the court was equally divided on ruling as to whether the statute is unconstitutional to begin with is encouraging," he added.
• Opponents contend that this measure would decrease funding for public K-12 education, higher education (including universities and community colleges), and human services (primarily heal...

Details worth keeping

"It's disappointing when you don't win, but half of the Supreme Court appears to believe that the law is unconstitutional, and the injunction should have been issued." For now, it means the PIID language will stand for the Nov 3 ballot, which states: