My August 29th newsletter highlighted Initiative 1185, which is on the November ballot and would reinstate the two-thirds legislative vote requirement to increase or apply new taxes. You voted the supermajority requirement into law four times—in 1993, 1998, 2007 and 2010. The initiative is the “son” of I-1053, which was recently ruled unconstitutional by a superior court judge because it limits the Legislature’s authority.
The case is currently being heard in the Washington State Supreme Court. If the lower court’s decision is upheld, the Legislature will be able to raise taxes with just a simple majority—even if you vote to approve the initiative again in November.
The Washington Policy Center (WPC) recently proposed a solution—put a constitutional amendment on the ballot and let the people decide if taxes and tax increases should require a supermajority vote. The WPC recently put this proposal in front of the entire Legislature and candidates for the general election in a survey. Of the 120 who responded, 101 answered “yes” and 12 answered “no.” I stand strongly behind my “yes” response.
I also stand behind my belief that Washingtonians deserve a representative government that recognizes that its ruling authority comes from the people.
