The Washington Senate chamber sits empty before the start of the legislative session on January 11. Senate Democrats are taking the lead this year on a decade-long effort to pass a capital gains tax in Washington. Credit: Northwest News Network WA Democrats push for capital gains tax in a year when 'tax' doesn't seem like a bad word Mar 01, 2021 Even as the state of Washingtonâs revenue picture improves, majority Democrats in the Legislature appear committed to a course that will, one way or another, involve raising taxes this year. Not necessarily to balance a recession-era budget, but instead to reform a tax code they view as regressive and to address gaps and inequities exposed by the global pandemic.