Peter Abbarno: Washington state’s pricey Labor Day

On this Labor Day, we honor the hard work, talent and dedication of Washington’s workforce. CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business 2025 ranked Washington No. 5 for workforce — a recognition worth celebrating.

Yet, at the same time, we must also acknowledge that our workers face significant challenges when they clock out each day. Our workers come home to face increasing financial burdens and the reality that their wages are not keeping up with rising costs.

Washington has become one of the most expensive states to live in, with some of the nation’s highest costs for gas, groceries, housing, property taxes and child care. This is largely due to the actions and inaction of majority-party Democrats in the Legislature.

Consider the numbers.

Washington has the third-highest gas prices in the nation. This year, Democrats raised the state gas tax by 6 cents and set it to automatically increase moving forward.

High fuel costs ripple into other essentials, including groceries. A study from HelpAdvisor showed that Washington is the fourth most expensive state for groceries. And according to the Washington State Food Security Survey, more than half of households in our state experienced food insecurity last year.

Housing paints an equally troubling picture. In 2013, Washington’s median home price was $253,800. By 2023, it had skyrocketed to $613,000. Years of restrictive regulations have made it difficult and expensive to build, fueling both a supply shortage and an affordability crisis.

For those on fixed incomes, rising property taxes and housing-related costs add even more strain. Bankrate recently ranked Washington the fifth highest for “hidden costs” of homeownership — including property taxes, maintenance, insurance, utilities and internet bills.

Families with young children face another challenge: Washington has the third-highest child care costs in the nation, according to WalletHub — if families are fortunate enough to find a provider at all. Child care deserts in our state remain unaddressed by the majority party.

These aren’t abstract statistics. They represent the daily reality of families struggling to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and gas in the car.

The United Way refers to many of these households as ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They are working families living paycheck to paycheck, often one medical emergency away from homelessness. They earn too much to qualify for meaningful aid but not enough to build stability. This creates a cycle of financial anxiety at the kitchen table, where parents wonder how they will make ends meet.

Retirees face the same squeeze. While Washington does not have a state income tax, escalating property taxes, health care premiums and daily living expenses are stretching fixed incomes thin.

The state’s affordability crisis does not discriminate; it impacts working families, retirees and young people alike.
This year, my House Republican colleagues and I opposed the largest tax increase in Washington state history. We supported targeted relief measures that would have made a difference: eliminating taxes on child care essentials, holding the line on property tax increases, cutting regulations that stifle housing and economic development, expanding policies to increase housing supply, and requiring state agencies to be more efficient and accountable.

These common sense solutions would help working families and ALICE households build intergenerational wealth, rather than being pushed toward government dependence.

Unfortunately, the majority in Olympia chose a different path — massive tax increases paired with reckless overspending that pushed the state budget into the red. Washington doesn’t have a budget crisis; it has a priorities crisis.

Labor Day serves as a poignant reminder of the contributions and sacrifices made by our workforce.

However, the bad economic policies passed by the majority are forcing our working families to make even greater sacrifices just to survive.

The dream of every Washingtonian is to thrive, not just survive. We must ensure that the dream remains attainable for all.

On this Labor Day, let’s recommit to strengthening our state’s workforce and making life in Washington more affordable.

Together, we can work toward a future where the cost of living aligns with the values of fairness, opportunity, and respect for every Washingtonian.

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Rep. Peter Abbarno represents the 20th Legislative District in the Washington State House of Representatives and is the House Republican Caucus Chair.