OLYMPIA —First up is a Republican amendment that limits the suspension for just this session.

Sen. Mike Carrell, R, warns that if Democrats repeal the provisions of Initiative 960, “there will be another referendum in November” on them.

Sen. Pam Roach, R: “There will probably be a new initative on the ballot, too.”

Sen. Val Stevens, R, quotes Abraham Lincoln in warning against “thwarting the will of the people. You are telling the people…we know better than you, we are a monarchy.”

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D, says initiatives are special because they can’t be vetoed by the governor, and are in the state constitution ahead of legislative powers.

Sen. Mike Carrell, R: “These are serious times. These are not times we should look at further burdening the people. Let’s just do it for one year, if you feel you must do it.”

Amendment fails 21-27, with Republicans, plus Sheldon and Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, voting yes.

OLYMPIA — A debate on how to debate the changes to tax-raising laws pits Republicans, who want to be able to have unlimited debate, against Democrats, who say that three-minutes per senator is enough and unlimited debate is really just obstructionism.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said the three-minute speech rule should be suspended for “one of the critical issues of this session.”

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said that proposal is “in the spirit of obstrucing” the issue through filibustering. With five different amendments, and each of the 49 senators speaking, that’s 250 speakers. At three-minutes per, they could be there all day, she noted.

“We’re prepared to be here as long as it takes,” Brown said.

Schoesler’s proposal dies on a party-line vote.