OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Associated Press calls that Washington residents voted against Initiative 2124 in the 2024 General Election with 44.5 percent voting in favor and 55.5 percent voting against.
Washington Initiative 2124, known as the Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative, would have allowed employees and self-employed people to opt out of paying the payroll tax and getting benefits under WA Cares.
WA Cares is a healthcare program that uses a mandatory payroll tax to provide long-term health service benefits, including home health care, adult day care, nursing home care and more.
The program passed Washington State Legislature in 2019 through House Bill 1087 with all democrats voting in favor and all republicans voting against. It went into effect July 1, 2023, with employers being required to deduct $0.58 per $100 of earnings for the tax.
