Tech
Group alleges fake sign-ins used to pad apparent opposition to Washington state ‘millionaires tax’
Invest in Washington Now, a Washington state-based advocacy group focused on progressive revenue reform, is alleging that widespread fraud in the Legislature’s public comment system has been used to pad apparent opposition to the so-called “millionaires tax.”
In a news release and virtual press conference on Monday, Invest in Washington Now said there have been tens of thousands of duplicate names used as sign-ins for hearings on Senate Bill 6346 and House Bill 2724. The group said more than 100 sign-ins marked “con” were confirmed as fraudulent over the weekend and ahead of Tuesday’s public hearing in the House Committee on Finance.
The Seattle Times reported on the allegations on Monday.
Among those who were allegedly impersonated: Sen. Victoria Hunt (D-Issaquah), a co-sponsor of the millionaires tax; former Rep. Derek Kilmer; SEIU 775 Secretary Treasurer Adam Glickman; and WEA President Larry Delaney.
Invest In Washington Now shared a letter it sent to Attorney General Nick Brown and House Chief Clerk Bernard Dean calling for an investigation into the scale of the alleged fraud and who is behind it.
“This is a clearly fraudulent effort to mislead legislators and the public about the level of opposition to the millionaires tax, and the ability to commit this type of fraud could undermine the integrity of legislative process on this and other issues,” the letter said.
The millionaires tax, which was approved by the Senate last week, would create a 9.9% tax applied to taxable, personal annual income that exceeds $1 million. The legislation marks the first time in decades that state lawmakers have pursued a personal income tax aimed at high‑income residents.
The bill has drawn opposition from some tech leaders and entrepreneurs who worry it could undermine the sector by souring Washington’s relatively favorable tax laws for startup founders, investors and high-wage earners.
Opponents of the tax have been pointing to what they call the “most unpopular bill in state history,” citing the many thousands of Washington residents who have signed on in opposition.
“More than 60,000 people signed in against SB 6346 when it received a rushed hearing in the Senate,” Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) said in a news release last week. “That is so impressive that Democrats have tried to say bots are responsible, even though the Legislature blocks bots. We know better.”
The legislative sign-in page does require CAPTCHA, a security mechanism used to prevent bots from abusing websites. But Invest in Washington Now pointed to the frequency and high number of duplicate names, many signed in within seconds of each other, that suggested the possible use of automated sign-in tools.
Hunt, who represents the 5th Legislative District, said she was signed in fraudulently twice.
“I did not sign in ‘con,’ I’m not sure who is doing this,” Hunt said. “I don’t know why a senator would sign into a House hearing in any event. It was not me.”
SEIU’s Glickman said he strongly supports the millionaires tax, so he was surprised to learn of his own apparent opposition to the bill.
“I was shocked to say the least, to learn that at 4:32 a.m. Thursday morning while I was home fast asleep, somebody apparently put my name and organization into the official testimony record as against the millionaires tax,” Glickman said. “I was even more appalled to learn that I wasn’t the only one that happened to over the weekend.”
Related:
- Proposed income tax on high earners advances in Washington state
- Opinion: Here’s what’s missing from the tax debate in Washington state
- Opinion: ‘Millionaires tax’ threatens Washington’s startup economy — here’s the math to prove it
- Opinion: The ‘millionaires tax’ is not an existential threat to Washington’s startup economy
- Washington’s ‘millionaires tax’ targets top earners as tech leaders warn of startup fallout