‘You did a great job reading the script’: Curley takes aim at Ken Jennings’ arguments against repealing WA’s income tax

“Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings appears in an advertisement urging Washington voters to reject Initiative 645, which would repeal the state’s new income tax. The ad describes repeal as a $13 billion tax break for millionaires and billionaires and warns of cuts to public schools.

Playing the recording during “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio, KIRO host John Curley disputed the ad’s revenue figure and school funding argument while advocating for repeal.

“Ken, a little disingenuous, but you did a great job reading the script,” Curley said. “The problem is, they haven’t collected the money yet. They’re forecasting the money is going to be there.”

Curley questions the $13 billion claim

Curley interrupted the advertisement after Jennings described repeal as a $13 billion tax break.

“I don’t know where you get that number from, Ken, because even the lawmakers say it’s about $11.5 billion,” Curley said. “The state is forecasting $11.4 billion, so $13 billion, I’m sorry, we can’t accept that. Moving on.”

The Northwest Progressive Institute’s post promoting the advertisement separately described repeal as eliminating an estimated $11.4 billion in revenue over five years. It did not explain how that estimate relates to the advertisement’s $13 billion figure.

Curley then challenged the description of school funding cuts.

“There are no cuts to public schools; you can’t cut something you don’t have. That’s the main part of the argument,” Curley said. “It’s the lawmakers’ fault if they are spending money that they haven’t had yet. That’s not a cut. You can’t cut something you don’t have yet.”

Future revenue is central to the disagreement

The tax applies to income above $1 million beginning in 2028, with the first payments due in 2029. Opponents of repeal argue that eliminating it would remove future revenue supporting education, health care, and tax relief.

Curley questioned the connection between collecting that revenue and directing it to schools.

“If they really wanted to, when the lawmakers were setting this thing up, they could have said the money goes right to schools and only to schools,” he said.

Curley also criticized the advertisement’s presentation of the consequences.

“It’s enough to scare everybody, thinking that, oh, the schools are going to suffer, and then the teachers, and then you’re not going to get health care,” he said. “Scare everybody into it.”

Curley asks whether voters trust Olympia

Curley broadened the discussion to whether taxpayers believe government delivers the services they expect.

“I think most people are OK with paying taxes if they feel as if the money that they’ve earned is respected by the lawmakers that take it and provide the services that are expected,” Curley said. “Do you trust Olympia? Do you get the services that you expect? You’re paying more for it all the time, but are you getting in return the services that you’re paying for?”

A yes vote on Initiative 645 would repeal the tax; a no vote would retain it.

Curley offered his own reminder for repeal supporters.

“The easiest way to remember it is: Yes, I want to keep more of my money,” Curley said. “Yes, that’s my money. Yes, I don’t want to give it to Olympia.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The John Curley Show” weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM.

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