Washington state Dems tax hike plans leak along with talking points on how to sell proposals to constituents

Washington state Democrats appeared to have accidentally emailed their sweeping revenue plans and internal talking points on tax hikes to the entirety of the upper chamber’s members in Olympia, Fox News has learned.Property tax hikes and a new double-digit tax on firearms are among proposals Washington state Democrats are considering, according to materials originally disseminated to all members by Washington Senate Deputy Floor Leader Noel Frame, D-Seattle, in late December and later obtained by Fox News Digital. A document titled “2025 Revenue Options” and a PowerPoint presentation describing how to talk to constituents in defense of the plan were included in the messages.The document lists proposed figures for an 11% tax on ammunition and firearms, reclassifying storage unit rentals as a retail transaction and a lift on the property tax levy lid for certain Washingtonians.A PowerPoint slide, highlighted by Seattle radio host Jason Rantz, described the “Best way to talk taxes” — with a chart of do’s and don’ts for lawmakers.Do say: “Pay what they owe” — but Don’t say: “Tax the rich” or “pay their fair share” because “taxes aren’t a punishment,” the graph read.It also suggested using the terms “funding,” “providing” and “ensuring” when describing the apparent benefits of tax hikes, rather than the term “investing in [X].”“Avoid centering the tax or talking in vague terms about ‘the economy’ or ‘education.’”One of the new proposals is that of a “capital assets ownership tax.”It is described as similar to property taxes, but instead would extend the real estate-type tax to holdings in stocks, bonds and other financial instruments.“We can ensure that extremely wealthy Washingtonians are taxed on their assets just like middle-class families are already taxed on theirs,” the slide reads.Another line directs lawmakers to proverbially “identify the villain” that is blocking “progress” an...