seattle seattle city council unanimously pass pioneer income tax city high earners monday measure become clarion call democrats even though likely face swift legal challenge violate state law measure create 2.25 percent tax rate individuals earn 250,000 marry couple jointly earn 500,000 tax add roughly 140 million new annual revenue affect few 20,000 residents city 660,000 supporters say proposal become rally cry democrats activists liberal-leaning city use local opposition republican president donald trump advance long sought-after local policies washington one seven u.s. state without tax personal income city state income tax supporters seattle proposal include mayor ed murray say current tax code unfairly burden poor middle class residents rely regressive tax tax property sales transactions proponents say new revenue need offset potential drop federal fund trump administration goal replace regressive tax system new formula fairness ensure seattle stand president trump austere budget cut transportation affordable house healthcare social service murray say e-mail city council 9-0 vote early monday murray tell cheer crowd rally outside city hall would sign measure law friday welcome legal challenge campaign new tax seattle rich launch early year trump proof seattle coalition community activists residents proceed tax could use pay transit service affordable house murray say city grapple soar house price recent years fuel part growth online retailer amazon.com headquarter downtown seattle voters olympia state capital reject similar tax high earners last year 2010 washington state voters reject state income tax ballot box jason mercier director conservative washington policy center say seattle tax conflict state law court decisions say expect city face swift legal challenge murray sign measure law something fundamentally wrong elect officials pass tax know state law constitution hope sue judge overturn prior decisions mercier say state law block county city levy tax net income although net income define statute washington state supreme court find income treat property constitution therefore tax uniformly percent value mercier say seattle lawmakers pass tax high earners mayor eager sue