After Democrats approved the highest tax increase in state history, it is Republicans who say they are the ones hoping to “give relief to the people who need the relief the most”

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

A town hall featuring four Republican state representatives drew more than 50 people to Battle Ground on Saturday morning, and the question-and-answer period lasted the full two scheduled hours — and then some.

The event started at 10 a.m., officially ended at noon, but some guests spoke with the representatives for longer in face-to-face discussions.

Stephanie McClintock and John Ley of Washington Legislative District 18 and Ed Orcutt and Peter Abbarno of District 20 met with voters to discuss the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session, which adjourned April 27, and other topics.

Subjects included insurance rates, law enforcement, timber, education, taxes, elections, and transportation.

(For more information on transportation, see our story on the representatives’ opinions on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project.)

There was a passionate exchange when a constituent suggested that Republicans should back a state income tax, with the goal to target the wealthy.

“For generations, the state of Washington has been run by one party,” Abbarno said. “The taxes we have today … created by one party.”

He noted that property taxes are on the rise. Fishing licenses. Hunting licenses. Marriage licenses. All going up this year. So, too, the cost of a Discover Pass. Then there is the rise of B&O taxes on small and big businesses.

He continued: More gas and diesel taxes. A tire tax. A new tax on drivers licences.

“Tax. Tax. Tax. This is not targeting the wealthy,” he said. “This is targeting every one of us.”