School Levy Change Passes Its First Test

Tue., Feb. 9, 1999

From Staff

A plan to allow a simple majority of voters to approve school levies sailed over its first hurdle in Olympia on Monday, but Republican opposition could doom its passage by the full Legislature.

A partisan fault line was apparent as the Senate Education Committee gave almost straight party-line approval to the proposed constitutional amendment. The vote was 8-4, with Sen. George Sellar of East Wenatchee the only Republican to join the majority Democrats in favor.

The plan would replace a 1944 constitutional amendment that requires 60 percent approval for levies to pass. It needs a supermajority of its own to win a place on the November statewide ballot - a two-thirds vote by both the House and Senate.

The next big test will be on the Senate floor, where backers need 33 of the 49 senators to vote in favor of SJR8204.

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