Oregon Public Broadcasting

A powerful union and Bill Gates' father are the top early contributors to an income tax campaign in Washington.

New financial disclosure reports show where Initiative 10-77 is getting its initial seed money. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins has details.

I-1077 would impose an income tax on individuals who make more than 200-thousand dollars a year. For Washington couples it would be more than $400,000.

At the same time the initiative would cut business and property taxes. The money raised would be earmarked for education and health care.

The Service Employees International Union is so far the biggest bankroller of the campaign with $80,000 dollars in cash and in-kind  contributions to the Yes campaign.

Bill Gates Sr., father of the second richest man in the world, is the second biggest donor at $50,000.

Gates Sr. kicked off the initiative campaign last month and has long been a proponent of tax reform in Washington. Backers have until July 2nd to collect more than 240-thousand valid voter signatures to put the measure on Washingtonís November ballot.

On the web: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/QuerySystem/committees/initiativedata.aspx