Cascadia today: OR bill would withhold money from feds + speak up for WA wealth tax + OR documentary gets Oscar nod

OR bill would withhold payments to feds

Cascadia Journal has received the text of a bill to be introduced in the Oregon legislature by Rep. Willy Chotzen (D-Portland) that would allow the state to not pay money due to the feds if the US government withholds funds "in contravention of a valid court order." The bill protects Oregon state employees from civil penalties.

However, the bill falls short of holding back federal taxes, with a clear exemption in the text for "payroll taxes." Earlier this week, Washington Democrats introduced a bill that would withhold some state payments to the federal government if "federal funding is withheld due to the existence of a valid Washington state law." However, according to an email sent by Sen majority leader Jamie Pedersen to a constituent, lawmakers don't plan to pass the bill out of committee because of a veto threat from governor Ferguson.

Cascadia Journal has reached out to the governor's office and OR and WA legislators for comment and will report more if I receive a response.

I've written previously that Cascadia needs to look seriously at creating an escrow account and withholding federal taxes if the Trump administration continues to withhold appropriated funds in retaliation for policies they don't like – including sanctuary laws preventing local law enforcement from working with ICE.

It’s time for Cascadia to impound federal taxes

As Washington and Oregon face numerous economic threats, including the real possibility of recession, disastrous flooding, continued wildfires, and massive cuts to the federal budget by the Trump administration, it’s time to consider an idea that’s been gaining traction in blue states hit hard by Trump’s authoritarian rule: holding federal

Cascadia JournalAndrew Engelson

Hearing on WA wealth tax & wellness fund today at 1:30

According to Washington Rep Shaun Scott's website, the Washington legislature will hold a public hearing in Olympia today, January 22 at 1:30 pm on HB 2100, the Washington Wellness Fund. The bill would place a 5% tax on large companies for each employee making more than $125,000. [CORRECTION 1/22/26. A previous version of this post said incorrectly that the limit was $184,500]. The majority of the revenue, expected to generate around $2 billion per year, would be deposited in an account dedicated to "higher education programs, health care, cash assistance programs, and energy and housing programs." If you live in Washington, sign up here to testify for the bill via Zoom.

If you can't make the hearing, send an email stating your support (you can find a summary of HB 2100 here), and note that that this bill would help to address the impact Trump administration cuts are having on our state NOW, and helps push back on governor Bob Ferguson's proposed austerity budget. Address your remarks to the Honorable House Finance Committee Chair April Berg (April.Berg@leg.wa.gov) and to House Finance Committee Vice Chair Chipalo Street (Chipalo.Street@leg.wa.gov).

And consider joining me and members of Cascadia Democratic Action as we join a coalition of organizations and unions for the Progressive Revenue Lobby Day rally on the steps of the Washington legislative building in Olympia at noon, Monday January 26. Email cascadiademocratic@protonmail.com to RSVP.

Tech layoffs send Seattle jobless rate above 5%

KUOW reports that a new round of layoffs at Meta, as well as previous layoffs from tech companies such as Microsoft and Amazon have sent Seattle's unemployment rate surging above 5%. In related news, Microsoft president Brad Smith is pushing the Washington legislature to pass laws making it easier to build housing across the state.

One year later, Lummi elder still missing

Cascadia Daily News has the tragic story of a Lummi Nation vigil for Bessalyn James, a Lummi elder and grandmother who went missing in January, 2025. According to the article James is among 110 missing Indigenous people in Washington state as of January 2026. Washington ranks second in the US for rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The state attorney general's office has a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People task force, but clearly Washington has more work to do.

Documentary on Oregon prison class nominated for Oscar

OPB reports that the documentary "Classroom 4," about a Lewis & Clark College class that takes place at the Columbia River Correctional Institution and involves a mix of students who are incarcerated and those who aren't, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the short documentary category. You can stream the documentary for free at PBS's POV website.

Classroom 4 - POV

A history professor teaches a class of free and incarcerated students inside a prison.

POVPOV

Thanks for reading! --Andrew