Spokane7
26°
February 9, 2010 in City
Wash. Senate OKs lowering hurdle for tax raises
Bill moves to House after contentious debate
OLYMPIA – The Legislature would be able to raise taxes this session and next with a simple majority vote under a bill approved Tuesday in the state Senate.
In the most contentious Senate debate this year – one that constantly invoked “the will of the people” – Democrats suspended for 16 months the need for a supermajority on tax increases imposed by voters in 2007.
Just hours after a 26-23 victory, however, they said they’d made a mistake and intended to suspend all the requirements of Initiative 960, including the need for statewide advisory votes on any tax they choose to raise. Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, the bill’s prime sponsor, said in an evening press release the majority party will bring up a new version to the Senate floor “as soon as possible…to suspend I-960 in full until July 2011.”
All 18 Republicans voted against the measure, as did five Democrats including Chris Marr of Spokane, who said later the Legislature should focus on efficiencies and budget cuts “before we default to simply raising taxes.”
Some Republicans like Sen. Cheryl Pflug of Maple Valley, predicted a “wall of rage” from voters in November. Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, said that even in tough economic times, the Legislature shouldn’t amend an initiative, which represents “the will of the people.”
“What is it about the will of the people that worries you?” asked Benton, a recently announced candidate for U.S. Senate. “I believe we have to listen.”
But Sen. James Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, noted that Republicans amended initiatives when they controlled the Legislature and needed to balance the budget.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said she and other Democrats respect the state constitution as much as Republicans, but the same constitution that gives voters the right of initiative also gives the Legislature the job of passing a balanced budget.
“If you hold the budget to minority rule, some would say hold hostage…then you are holding the policy of the people also hostage to minority rule,” she said.
At one point, Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, after hearing several references to the people’s will, said people also want the state to show compassion to children and the elderly: “Grandma is scared. The services she is receiving will be eliminated or cut drastically…I promised grandma I will vote for her.”
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, responded: “I’m a grandma and I don’t want to have my taxes raised. I’m a grandma and I’m not voting for this bill.” Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Wells, D-Seattle, countered: “I’m a grandmother and I am voting for this bill.”
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, went one better: “I have 43 grandchildren…I believe it’s our responsibility to take care of people.”
Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, got laughs from both sides by beginning his statement “First, I want to make it clear that I am not a grandmother.”
Although scorching in their criticism of the bill in debate, Republicans leaders afterwards claimed a partial victory because some of the provisions they hated most had been stripped out of the bill. Some of those will likely return, to prompt further debate, in the next version Democrats propose.
Santorum visits lawmakers in Olympia 
WSU Text-to-Win Contest 
Enter to win tickets to see Adam Carolla at the Knitting Factory 
EWU Text-to-Win Contest 
Peeode on February 09 at 4:22 p.m.
That is our government in action! Helping the little guys again!!??
citizen on February 09 at 4:24 p.m.
We have to get rid of Senator Lisa Brown. She must have alot of money and does not either think or care about the rest of us, especially we that are on retirement. She just voted to re-instate the majotity rule on tax increases against the will of the Wa. voters that by referendum put the 2/3 rule in place. How does she have the gall to feel she represents the voter?
For years she has been trying to get a state incomtax in Washington, as if we didn’t have enough taxes. We have to clean house on the stste legislature and send the liberal democrats (and liberal republicans) packing.
I am tired of feeding and caring for the non-producers in the state. Lets get them producing for the welfare of the entire state or get them to hell out. Citizen
johnnygriffith on February 09 at 5:07 p.m.
This begs a bigger question.
Why does my vote count less than my neighbor’s?
If my neighbor’s vote was worth one and my vote was worth 2/3rds of his because of the color of my skin, my gender, or my religion, it seems to me that there would be a justifiable outcry of discrimination. If I am pro-responsible government and if my neighbor is an anti-tax, anti-government individual, his vote is worth 1.5 times my vote when it comes to levies and bonds.
Why do we allow this kind of discrimination? How is this legal?
Recently Spokane’s citizens voted on a bond for the fire department. It garnered something like 59.5% of the vote. Had the bond been a person running for election, he or she would have won in a landslide. The elected one might even say they now had a mandate. However, because it was a bond it was defeated - with the minority overriding what the majority wanted. How is this fair/democratic/constitutional?
Please let’s get rid of the super-majority rules for all bonds and levies. Discrimination is wrong no matter who it’s against.
PlanB on February 09 at 5:17 p.m.
We need super-majority votes to PREVENT discrimination. The majority should not be allowed to impose tyranny on the minority, and super-majority requirements help offset that possibility. It’s not perfect, but do you want 50.1% of the population to impose their will on the other 49.9%?
Voters approved I-960 because the legislature can’t control itself, and they are showing it again.
deacon46 on February 09 at 5:22 p.m.
What happened to Democracy in the State of Washington ? The problem with the tax super majority it was voted in by a slim margin but in any case that is Democracy. At least elsewhere.
johnnygriffith on February 09 at 5:33 p.m.
PlanB thanks for highlighting the kind of thinking one has to do to convince themselves that supermajority is the way to go.
You complain that 50.1 percent inflicting their will upon the 49.9 percent is wrong, yet 40 percent inflicting their will against 60 percent is right. I guess as long as the minority decides for what you want you are OK with that.
Just because you don’t like something shouldn’t mean you get to set the rules so it makes it easier for you to win and avoid that thing you don’t like. That’s no democracy. And that’s not fair. It is discrimination.
CASTAWAY on February 09 at 8:09 p.m.
The move by Gregoire and the Democrats to circumvent a mandate by the people is nothing less than an outrage. It’s not
“we the people”. It’s they the government. What next? State income tax!?
We can see the results of tax raise after tax raise. Just look at California. This is like a bunch of alcoholics drinking your liquor.
They’re not concerned at how much they’ve consumed, they just want you to keep pouring. It’s time for AA folks. November is coming and not too soon.