Editorial
October 30, 2012
By Staff
Vote no Initiative 1185
Washington voters approved a two-thirds legislative majority for taxes in 1993, 1998, 2007 and most recently in 2010.
Proponents argue that the two-thirds majority measure on this year’s ballot, Initiative 1185, is again needed to keep state legislators in line. In fact, a two-thirds requirement gives the minority — in this case, a small group of state senators — the unfair advantage to shut down any proposed tax increase.
Earlier two-thirds majority requirements led lawmakers to make deep cuts to spending, including to education. There are occasions when tax increases are needed. The majority — more than 50 percent — should be all that it takes, as the state Constitution was written.
The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the state’s top priority is to fund education, and a two-thirds majority requirement would tie legislators’ hands at a time when they need greater flexibility to address the challenge of funding education.
Vote no on I-1185.
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Yes, deep cuts to spending even though the state budget increases year after year after year after year after year. Puhlease.