Battle Ground hosted a lively fundraiser on Wednesday for Clark County Future 42, a local arm of the Project 42 nonprofit. The event featured Brandi Kruse, an independent journalist and podcast host, and former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, who used the gathering to celebrate recent victories and warn of upcoming battles over state policy.
Protecting girls’ sports
Kruse opened the evening by recounting her recent reporting on a transgender athlete competing in a girls’ cross‑country race in Clark County. She said the story sparked a surge of grassroots activism, with parents who had never heard of her or Initiative 638 suddenly “freakin’ in the fight.”
She highlighted that Initiative 638 – a measure to protect girls’ sports – passed statewide by roughly 12 points and by a 21‑point margin in Clark County. “If we can pass that initiative in Washington, we can pass any damn well thing we please,” Kruse declared, urging attendees to stay the course.
Challenging the new income tax
McKenna shifted the conversation to the state’s newly approved progressive income tax. While voters kept the tax plan that the legislature had earlier adopted, McKenna argued that the ballot language was misleading and that the tax itself conflicts with Washington’s constitution, which treats income as property.
He explained that, under the state’s constitution, any tax on income must follow the same rules as a property tax – no higher than one percent and applied uniformly. The proposed tax would start at a 1 percent rate on residents earning $1 million or more, with Democrats already pushing to lower that threshold.
McKenna cited historical precedent, noting that Washington voters have rejected a progressive income tax four times over the past decades and that the state’s Supreme Court has consistently ruled that income is property. He criticized the ballot wording, saying it forced voters to “vote yes to be a no” on the tax and that the description implied a cut to education funding, which he called “highly misleading.”
He warned that the tax’s revenue would not be collected for years and that the measure could erode Washington’s fiscal advantage over neighboring Oregon, which lacks a comparable tax structure. “You don’t have to look very far south of Clark County to see what the alternative looks like,” McKenna said, pointing to Oregon’s lower tax burden.
Future 42’s role and next steps
Future 42, part of the larger Project 42 network, was founded in 2025 to promote free‑market principles, personal liberty, and individual prosperity in Washington. The organization provided legal and financial support to Kruse in her reporting efforts and continues to back the fight against the income tax.
Kruse, 38, affirmed her commitment to the cause, stating, “I am not going anywhere. I’m going to fight this fight as long as it freakin’ takes.” She urged supporters to remain active, reminding them that the recent election showed both victories and setbacks, and that sustained engagement is essential.
Community response
Attendees, many of whom were parents of youth athletes, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative’s success and concern over the tax proposal. Several pledged to volunteer with Future 42, attend upcoming town‑hall meetings, and contact their elected officials to oppose the tax.
The fundraiser underscored the growing mobilization of Clark County residents around issues of gender‑affirming sports participation and fiscal policy, reflecting a broader statewide debate over the role of government in taxation and individual rights.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
