Bill Gates Sr. takes a shot at it in our recent interview about his efforts to pass Initiative 1077:

What do your wealthy friends think of your proposal?

I’m sure it’s quite mixed. You know, there’s a natural disinclination to have your tax bill go up, and a lot of people respond to that specific ingredient of the situation and they don’t want it to happen. And a good many, probably a minority, feel like—as I’ve already said—like there’s a sense of justice in the equation of people with the highest incomes paying at least a proportionate amount of their share of the taxes to run the state.

Now, one of those wealthy Washingtonians who is opposed to this initiative—and I don’t know if he’s your friend or not—is Frank Blethen, publisher of the Seattle Times. You’ve seen his paper’s editorial against I-1077, I’m sure. What do you say to someone like him?

Frank Blethen is a friend. He’s among those on the side of the coin that opposes more taxes on the well-to-do.

And what do you say to someone like him?

What I’ve already said to you. The justice of the situation is to have people with higher incomes pay more.

Here's the full interview.