Staff Reports
Ken Jennings showed up on television this week to tell Washington voters to keep the new “millionaires” income tax. The Jeopardy! host’s 30‑second spot urges a “No” vote on Initiative 645, warning of big cuts to schools and calling the repeal a huge tax break for the rich. Cute commercial. But celebrity endorsements don’t make tax policy smart — they make it a TV moment.
Ken Jennings’ Ad: A Pop Quiz for Voters
The NO on 645 coalition rolled out the Jennings spot as ballots hit mailboxes. In the ad Jennings says Initiative 645 would give millionaires and billionaires a $13 billion tax break and lead to cuts to public schools. Those are the talking points the campaign is running. Voters should note who paid for the ad and what the group wants: NO on 645 means keep the 9.90% tax on income above $1 million.
What the law actually says — and who it hits
Here’s the plain fact check: the Legislature enacted a 9.90% tax on individual income over $1,000,000. Official estimates show the levy will affect several‑tens of thousands of filers, not the everyday family struggling with groceries. Campaigners toss around multi‑year totals like $11–$13 billion to scare people; that figure is the NO on 645 campaign’s framing of the repeal’s impact, not a neutral one‑line truth. Use the state Department of Revenue and the legislative summary if you want the basic numbers instead of ad copy.
Initiative 645 is about more than one bill
Voters should also know 645 would not only repeal the tax but would bar state and local governments from imposing individual income taxes in the future. That’s real policy with long‑term consequences — for better or worse — and it should be debated honestly, not decided by star power. The repeal drive is run by Brian Heywood and his group; their pitch centers on protecting small businesses, retirees, and economic freedom from a permanent new tax regime. There are lawsuits and ballot wording fights in the background, so expect a messy fall of ads and claims.
A simple point for voters
Whether you like Ken Jennings or find him charming on TV, he’s not the one balancing state budgets or running a small business. Celebrities make good sound bites; taxpayers need clear facts and clear choices. Initiative 645 is that choice: keep a new, large income tax in place forever, or repeal it and stop Washington from locking in this tax structure. If you think the state should not keep expanding taxation on high earners and risk spillover effects on jobs and families, vote YES to repeal. It’s too important to be decided by a 30‑second quiz show cameo.
