‘He should just go back to Europe’: Jake responds to Rick Steves’ support for Washington’s millionaires’ tax

While the millionaires’ income tax is slated to appear on the November ballot, two well-known Washington natives have spoken out in favor of the tax: “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings and travel guru Rick Steves.

In a statement, Steves stated that people like him, the uber-wealthy, should vote no on the initiative to repeal the tax because more money won’t bring additional happiness, and that the tax will have no negative impact.

“If you’re like me and you’ve reached a point where you have enough money, and you understand that consuming more will not bring you more joy or security, you understand that this tax package will have no real negative impact on anyone,” Steves said.

Jake argues the money would be ‘poorly spent’ no matter what

Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, argued that the tax was created in a way where it will eventually shift downward and dip lower than the $1 million threshold, and the money being given to the government would be “poorly spent” regardless.

“Here’s what I always come back to,” Jake said. “They’re making this argument that by taking more money from the uber wealthy, which again they’re not willing to lock into just the uber wealthy, that now everything will be properly funded, and like Rick Steves says, there finally is going to be lunches for kids, and there’s going to be better tax breaks for small businesses, and all these things.

“When you look at what they have committed to spending the money on, and the only reason they’re even saying that they need to take more money is that they’ve so poorly spent the money they’ve already been given,” he continued. “Does Rick Steves think that they’re spending their money correctly right now? If he can’t say that Washington State is budgeting correctly, then how can he justify telling people it’s not a big deal to take more money?”

Rantz says Steves’ own habits undercut his tax stance

Jason Rantz, host of “The Jason Rantz Show” on Seattle Red 770 AM, noted that even though Steves is likely very charitable, he would still rather give his money elsewhere instead of to the government.

“I don’t think he needs to say it,” Rantz said. “All he has to do, because I’m assuming he donates to charity, I’m assuming he’s very charitable. But how much more do you give to charity than you do to cutting an extra paycheck to the government to spend money on your behalf? Which one are you willing to do more? I’m willing to bet he’s going to give nothing to Olympia unless he has to, and give a lot more to charitable organizations.”

“I value Rick Steves’ advice, but when it comes to taxes, he should just go back to Europe,” Jake responded. “He doesn’t need to give us advice.”

“Practice what you preach, how about that?” Rantz said.

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