WA Lege Day 30: Bill passes 26-23

OLYMPIA — The Senate approved changing state law to allow taxes to be raised this year and next with a simple majority.

After a lengthy debate and a time out for parliamentary measures, the Senate voted 26-23 to suspend the provisions of Initiative 960 that requires a two-thirds majority to raise taxes. The supermajority would return after July 1, 2011.

All Republicans voted against the bill, as did five Democrats, among them Sen. Chris Marr of Spokane. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, voted to pass the bill which is generally regarded as a step toward raising some taxes to help close the state’s projected budget gap..

It now goes to the House of Representatives.