Cascadia today: WA passes millionaires' tax + Seattle bans detention centers + BC urges Cascadia to ditch the switch

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WA house passes millionaires tax after 24 hours of debate

After a grueling 24 hours of debate, the Washington state house passed a 9.9% tax on residents earning $1 million or more each year. Republicans offered 79 amendments, nearly all of which failed, and griped about wealthy people potentially leaving the state (at one point trying to make the case that the return of the Seattle Supersonics NBA team would be at risk). But Democrats, groggy and determined, fought for working people and for continued funding education, health care, child care, and the social safety net.

The bill heads back to the Senate to work out minor changes to the bill, and then will land on governor Bob Ferguson's desk, where he's expected to sign it.

During the final debate on the bill, Rep Brianna Thomas (D-Seattle) gave the most memorable speech of the evening, noting:

"Millionaires pay 4% in taxes. Working folks like pay 11% of their income in taxes. But the people were were sent here to help pay 14% of their income in taxes. The millionaires just got a big old break from the feddy-gov with HR 1, so maybe they wouldn't mind investing at home."

Ok I decided to pull the video.

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— Ryan Packer (@typewriteralley.bsky.social) March 10, 2026 at 9:57 PM

Thomas' bill that increases protections and minimum wage requirements for domestic workers also passed and was signed into law this week.

Seattle bans new detention centers for one year

The Seattle city council voted unanimously yesterday to ban new detention centers in the city – specifically, federal ICE detention facilities – for one year. Bill sponsor Alexis Mercedes Rinck said in a statement:

“To the constituents of Seattle, we hear you loud and clear. You’ve been asking us to use every tool in our toolbox to get ICE out of Seattle. Today’s action is a step forward in that effort. We will not facilitate this cruel, inhumane, and lawless agenda.”

BC premier meets ambassador, urges ditch of switch

The Tyee reports that the US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, met with BC premier David Eby in Victoria. It was reportedly a frosty but productive meeting, with Hoekstra echoing Donald Trump's sentiment that the US needs nothing from Canada. The two sides talked about what to do about 45% tariff on Canadian softwood timber, and also made no commitments about allowing the west coast of the US to join BC in abandoning switching clocks every year. Eby recently sent a letter to the governors of Washington, Oregon, and California encouraging them to defy the feds and join BC in ditching the switch.

"...our Cascadia region remains deeply integrated through tourism, trade, and transportation... We want our economies to be aligned, for travel and trade to be unhindered."

As B.C. enters permanent daylight saving time, many States along the West Coast are thinking about doing the same. This week I laid out the case for elected officials and asked them to join us.

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— David Eby (@davidebybc.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 10:20 AM

Seattle businesses cut waste and sell recycled products

The South Seattle Emerald profiles Seattle businesses that have received ReThink Waste grants from Seattle Public Utilities to assist them in cutting waste and pushing sustainable products sourced from recycled materials. Among the grantees is the beloved vegan Vietnamese restaurant Chu Minh Tofu, to reduce food and packaging waste, and Re-Design Collective, which makes clothing and accessories from recycled fabrics.

Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andrew