The County Connection | The 'Ol Policy Switcheroo – Episode 219

About this episode

The episode discusses the chaotic final days of the 2026 legislative session, focusing on the controversial millionaire’s tax bill and its implications for local government funding.

In this breaking‑news episode, Paul Jewell and Brad Banks dig into the chaotic final days of the 2026 legislative session as the controversial “millionaire’s tax” bill, SB 6346, changes, yet again. This time, stripping all local government funding with just days left. They unpack how public defense hopes rose and collapsed, how surprise tax exemptions will blow massive holes in county budgets, and why 79 amendments now threaten to grind the Legislature to a halt. With behind‑the‑scenes insight, sharp analysis, and a fair bit of frustration, they capture a moment in Olympia that has counties on edge. The episode is equal parts policy autopsy and real‑time political thriller. Recorded: March 9, 2026 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communities. From budgets to public safety, infrastructure to elections, we’ll break down what’s happening in Olympia and how it impacts counties across the Evergreen State. Stay informed, stay engaged, and join us as we amplify the voice of Washington’s 39 counties. ---------- Learn more at wsac.org Register on The Hub…

People in this episode

Hosts: Paul Jewell, Brad Banks

Topics covered

• legislation
• tax policy
• local government funding
• public defense
• political analysis
• budget impacts

Keywords

• millionaire’s tax
• SB 6346
• local government funding
• public defense
• legislative session
• tax exemptions
• county budgets
• political analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Washington State Association of Counties

Products: millionaire’s tax, SB 6346

Places: Olympia

More episodes of County Connection

• The County Connection | Breaking Down the 2026 Supplemental Budget – Episode 223 · March 13, 2026 · 56 min
• The County Connection | Sine Die Shenanigans: Surprises, Setbacks & Standouts of the 2026 Session – Episode 222 · March 13, 2026 · 55 min
• The County Connection | Session Superlatives: Big Wins, Near Misses & the Policy Team Unplugged – Episode 221 · March 13, 2026 · 55 min
• The County Connection | Sine Die Eve: Public Health Wins, Near‑Misses & Last‑Minute Saves – Episode 220 · March 12, 2026 · 43 min
• The County Connection | Budget Gymnastics & Billion‑Dollar Backfills: Inside the 2026 Supplemental Showdown – Episode 218 · February 27, 2026 · 1h 11m
• The County Connection | Cutoff Chaos & Big Politics – Episode 217 · February 26, 2026 · 31 min