‘Backdoor into your household finances’: Jake warns mandatory FAFSA push could feed state income tax

Governor Bob Ferguson is pushing to make it mandatory for high school students to fill out a FAFSA form to apply for state funding, as Washington has one of the lowest turnout rates for FAFSA applications.

In light of the news, Jason Rantz on Seattle Red 770 AM reached out to Ferguson with a question, essentially asking if the requirement could give the state access to kids’ parents’ income and financial information, thus potentially allowing that data to be used in connection with a future state income tax.

Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, debated whether it was a good thing to give families who may not know of the available funding access to it, or if there was an ulterior motive in Ferguson’s move to make it mandatory.

“I think it’s a concern. Every family should know about every piece of information they put in the financial sphere,” Spike said. “The state promised that they’ll never use this for nefarious purposes. I mean, sure, you’d like the state to say, ‘Look, we’re not going to abuse this information.’ I would like the federal government to say they’re not going to abuse this information.”

Jake sees the mandate as a potential gateway to income data

Jake believed that the FAFSA is being used as a “doorway” into parents’ financial information, which could be used down the road, as Washington’s income tax was signed but is now being challenged.

“Here’s the thing: Washington doesn’t have a mechanism right now to know how much money you make in your household,” Jake said. “This FAFSA is their doorway to know that information. They don’t have a mechanism because we don’t have a state income tax. So they don’t know how much you’re making, and there are critics out there who are saying, ‘Is this just a backdoor into them now saying this is an easy way into your household financial information, which is required if you want to get any money through the state?'”

Ferguson’s spokesperson, Brionna Aho, responded to the question with: “I’m not sure I’m understanding your question,” but assured that a family can “opt out for any reason.”

Rantz asked a follow-up question, doubling down on whether the governor would support an explicit prohibition preventing the state, including the Department of Revenue, from accessing or using parents’ income and financial information for tax enforcement.

Hosts remain split on whether the concern held water

Jake and Spike went back and forth, questioning Ferguson’s true intent for the mandate, as Aho did not respond to the follow-up question.

“I’d ask those critics if they make their own tinfoil hats or do they buy them in bulk,”

“Do you think there’s any legitimacy to that?”

“I think you’re looking for something to worry about at that point,” Spike said. “I would hope that people can be secure in their personal information. It’d be nice if the state could guarantee that.”

“The governor’s office did not respond to the follow-up question,” Jake said.

“Well, let’s follow up again,” Spike responded.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3