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Seattle Now

Tax the wealthy? New session, big questions for WA lawmakers

Seattle Now

KUOW News and Information

Daily News, News

4.7670 Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2026

⏱️ 16 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The 2026 legislative session kicked off this week in Olympia. State lawmakers have a lot to figure out – especially the budget that’s still underwater. One idea that's getting floated is an income tax on millionaires. Paul Queary is here to explain what lawmakers are getting up to. He’s editor and publisher of the Washington Observer.

Transcript

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0:00.0

How does AI even work?

0:03.0

Where does creativity come from?

0:05.5

What's the secret to living longer?

0:07.8

Ted Radio Hour explores the biggest questions with some of the world's greatest thinkers.

0:12.8

They will surprise, challenge, and even change you.

0:16.4

Listen to NPR's TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

0:24.3

Hey there, good morning. I'm Paige Browning. It's Tuesday. This is Seattle now. It's day two of the

0:31.0

26 legislative session at Washington State's Capitol. Do you know what your lawmakers are up to?

0:36.7

For one, they've got to plug the

0:38.4

state's $2 billion budget hole. Are millionaires part of the answer? We'll get the scoop from

0:44.1

Paul Query, editor and publisher of the Washington Observer. But first, let's get you caught up.

0:58.7

Can you say revive I-5? Buckle up, sorry for the pun, because it's going to be slow on Interstate 5 in Seattle for a while.

1:05.4

Only half of the lanes, two in total, are open on I-5 North over the ship canal bridge,

1:10.7

and it's going to stay down to two

1:12.7

lanes until June. Then, after the Soccer World Cup here, lanes close again until sometime next

1:19.4

year. Watchdots asking people to find other transportation options and asking employers to let

1:25.5

people arrive before 7 a.m. or after 10 a.m.

1:29.3

Maybe ferry travel is a nicer thing to think about.

1:33.3

And we've got news. Washington State Ferries is going to try offering Wi-Fi again this summer.

1:38.3

The Seattle Times reports the Wi-Fi pilots limited to the Bremerton Terminal and the Bremerton to Seattle Ferry,

1:45.7

the Chimacom. Ferry officials will report to the legislature in September, and if the pilot goes

1:51.1

well, the state could pay the multi-million dollars needed to expand Wi-Fi fleet-wide.

...

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