Spokane7
49°
February 4, 2010 in City
Citizens’ tax curb on block
Sen. Brown cites ‘crisis’ in effort to suspend I-960
OLYMPIA – Senate leaders want to make it easier for state lawmakers to raise taxes.
Democrats will begin a move today to suspend the supermajority required to raise taxes that was approved by voters two years ago.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, called Initiative 960 a “straightjacket on our state in a time of economic crisis” and a requirement that gives a minority the ability to obstruct the Legislature.
Senate Bill 6843 would suspend, through June 2011, the requirement that all tax increases must pass with a two-thirds majority. The supermajority would come back after that, unless the Legislature took further action to suspend it. But if it passes, simple majorities could approve any tax increases sought this year or for the biennial budget that must be passed next year.
The bill also would make a permanent change that any time voters approve an initiative that alters policy but doesn’t designate a new tax to pay for it, the Legislature could raises taxes with a simple majority to accomplish that policy. Examples of that would be initiatives voters approved in 2000 to shrink classroom sizes and raise pay for teachers, which have been suspended in tight state budgets.
It also would allow the Legislature to “clarify legislative intent” if the state Supreme Court were to interpret the law as not allowing a particular tax or tax exemption. That’s significant in light of a court decision last fall that ruled against a tax on Dot Foods, an out-of-state supplier. That ruling is estimated to drop state tax revenues by $137 million per year.
Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said the proposal was a prelude to raising taxes to bail out poor state budget decisions of the past. “It creates a climate of fear and apprehension that will only quash job creation and put more people out of work.”
Democrats should first put any tax increases to a vote and see if they get a two-thirds majority, Hewitt said. Republicans would likely agree to changes that address the Dot Foods case, he added.
Republicans have introduced a bill to reaffirm the two-thirds majority, and several have joined Tim Eyman on a new initiative that would ask voters in November to reinstate the supermajority. Eyman described the Democrats’ proposal with a string of adjectives that included “galling,” “exasperating” and “arrogant.”
Brown said her main concern was not with Eyman’s upcoming initiative but with writing a budget “consistent with our values” that doesn’t make drastic cuts to education, health care and children’s services.
The bill is one of two proposals being discussed by Democrats looking for a way around the two-thirds majority requirement imposed by I-960. The other would be to repeal it entirely, Brown said.
It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee this afternoon and will likely go to the Senate floor sometime next week, Brown said.
Romney/Paul split weighing on county GOP 
nutz4utwo on February 04 at 6:54 a.m.
Don’t like a law? Does it get in your way? Why change it, Suspend it! (that way you can tell people that you are still going to follow it, but you can just do whatever you want. Sneaky Sneaky
Spokane_PI on February 04 at 6:57 a.m.
Another Obama Liberal who just doesnt get it!
madscientist on February 04 at 7:57 a.m.
Now we know who NOT to vote for re-election next time. Lisa Brown tops the list.
mruge on February 04 at 8:59 a.m.
Its just another case of Dems changing the rules of the game, midgame, so they can get what they want. The last time I checked, that was called “cheating”.
lewis8457 on February 04 at 10:37 a.m.
all you Obama lovin nut jobs. this is your presidents party. remember the guy that was going to change it all. yeh he is changing it. for the the worse.
Try to blame this one on the republican’s.
deacon46 on February 04 at 10:52 a.m.
Cut the fat. No more race track type purchases. Lets cut the salaries and perks and staffs of these pigs at a trough politicians. No more new laws and no more lawyers and consultants for things that are nice for some but not essential for all of us. And lets as voters start voting for people who understand “by the people and for the people”.
MrNatural on February 04 at 1:49 p.m.
Maybe it’s just me but it seems that the price of everything keeps going up while taxes (or the mantra thereof) are either getting cut or not keeping pace. So federal, state and local government systems are not getting enough revenue to cover the escalating costs hence a deficit to keep what is in effect running. Now I know that most of you would like to see government employees living in trailer parks and coming to work in sack cloth like the rest of us but when you look at other countries and see what they need to pay to maintain their standard of living (or at least one that would be acceptable to our standards) we in this state and country seem to be getting a bargain….but that’s just my opinion I could be wrong…please don’t yell
libmark on February 04 at 2:43 p.m.
Sorry folks. If you want to live in an world where economic growth equals prosperity, your government isn’t going to stay the same size. If you’re a contractor and want to be paid more this year than you were last year to pave a mile of road, then you have to accept that the funding mechanisms have to increase as well. We can’t have one without the other, me thinks.
Shylock13 on February 04 at 4:54 p.m.
Let me get this straight. The legislative majority does not like the fact that a minority (less than 2/3rds of the votes) could block new taxes. They apparently do not take into account that a MAJORITY of voters in Washington approved exactly that—that it would require a 2/3rds majority for new taxes. Our “elected” representatives in both branches of the legislature are supposed to represent the people. The people have spoken, and the people want a 2/3rds majority of the legislature to approve new taxes. The legislature has gone against the voters before, I believe. How much do you pay to register your vehicles, whatever the fees are called? I ask all Washington voters to write, call, email their reps and demand that they respect the will of the people of Washington., the votes of their constituents. Anyone who does not, should be voted out of office. They should represent us!
If a tax increase is needed, then the legislature should approve it according to the Initiative approved by the people.
Shylock13 on February 04 at 4:56 p.m.
Or, let the legislature submit a binding Initiative (or whatever) to the people of Washington to change what they have already approved.
Ol_Blue on February 04 at 9:03 p.m.
In 2002 the Idaho Legislature, overwhelmingly Republican, became the first legislature of its kind to repeal its own term limits, voted in by the citizens of the state in 1994. Guess it isn’t just a Democratic thing, it’s a power thing. Unlike you folks in Washington though, the people of Idaho didn’t make a peep when their initiative was overturned.
ThinkRight on February 04 at 10:00 p.m.
Dear Mr. Natural,
I must point out that your comment that “the price of everything keeps going up while taxes … are either getting cut or not keeping pace.” is entirely offline. Not only have our city, state, and federal taxes taken as a whole historically increased without exception since the founding of the state, the effect has been an ever expanding government and increased burden on the private citizen to support it. You must realize that businesses don’t actually pay for tax increases, we do. They simply raise their prices to accommodate each new tax increase and thus it is passed on to consumers by higher prices and in some cases cut backs in staff or benefits etc. in order to offset the increased burden inflicted by a short-sighted government.
This new Democrat scheme is just the latest outrage enacted on us despite having clearly spoken multiple times by voting into law initiatives such as 960.
Ronald Reagan said it best: “The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.
MrNatural on February 05 at 9:38 a.m.
Dear rwortman,
Our differences of opinion illustrate the disparity that impairs resolve to the deficit crisis. Walt Kelly once said “We have met the enemy and he is us.” I do not disagree with you totally that the price is passed on to the consumer if taxes are levied on goods and services. What I contend is how on one hand we elect officials to run this state and make it difficult for them to do so…anyone, left or right espouses soothing idealism to the mob while campaigning only to be forced to recant their position when the realities and pressures of running government of the people become their responsibility. Regan’s lofty and inspiring words allowed a wealthy segment of this county to make a lot of wealth while running up his own deficit and I for one saw nothing “trickle down” to our communities benefit and home interest rates were at 10+% during his tenure. To be more specific with my concern is that those I know who currently work in public safety and social services have been so hamstrung by budget cuts over the last fifteen years that an increased risk to the quality (health and safety) of our community is soon on the horizon if not already having a serious impact (and you get what you pay for). To be more blunt I have no problem paying more taxes as a rising tide lifts all boats and I detest this greed for private wealth at the sacrifice of my community. To close, I respect your opinion but demonizing government as a drunk on payday (a system we as private citizens created and appointed) is a reflection of our communities standards where we express Champaign taste on a beer budget and understanding that government is the business of the people, we must accept it needs as much consideration to be funded successfully as any successful small medium or large private business.
thanks!
PlanB on February 05 at 11:14 a.m.
I sure would like to understand why anyone would consider a 2/3 vote to raise taxes could be considered unconstitutional. Should the will of 50.1% of legislators (or voters for that matter) be allowed to dictate to the remaining 49.9%? Heck no, that’s what the founders were worried about: The majority exercising tyranny over the minority.
Right now, there is a large number of programs that are “protected” and must be funded. Only discretionary spending can be cut, and in Washington that is mostly social services. If legislators really wanted to change something, they need to make more of the budget discretionary.
builder_or_pyramids on February 06 at 11:40 a.m.
In most cases where a vote is taking place a few legislatures don’t bother to show up to vote. In the previous comment, it is the majority being dictated to by a minority.
100 votes to be cast, 25 no shows, 25 cast no votes, 24 against, 26 in favor. 26% rule over 74% of the state’s residence.
The Obama job creation plan is only happening in positions of government. Olympia needs to experience an open and honest audit. Where can the state cut cost? What positions were created as a favor for a vote on some proposed bill? What government jobs can be cut? What salaries and benefits can be cut for elected officials?
If you want to put something on a ballad, try putting a salary cap on elected officials. If they aren’t willing to work for 1.5 times minimum wage, then they are in it for the money and power. Cap the salaries. I’ll sign that one to be put on the ballad.
Scoutster on February 08 at 3:32 p.m.
I think the idea is that this is seen as a budgetary crisis requiring a crisis response. A 2/3 majority for a tax increase might sound good on Faux News, but it is poor public policy. The choice the majority faces is to let the train wreck happen (don’t increase taxes), or try to at least slow it down (increase some taxes). Increasing taxes probably won’t win any fans because “the people” are so ignorant about budgeting and where services come from. The Dems will pay for it in the long run, but they are trying to be responsible in the short run. The GOP is the party of borrow and spend. Ask a GOP legislator what they SPECIFICALLY want to cut. Once they get past the usual sound bites of “the fat” or some other nonsense, they have no real, serious proposals. They just like to complain about the other guys. (I’m an independent, in case you are wondering.) BTW, rwortman, the US gov’t GREW exponentially under Reagan. That is a fact. All the flag waving and tearful Hallmark memories of The Gipper doesn’t change that. He was a big government, deficit-loving Republican.