Attorney General defends Initiative 1366

Today is the first day of the 2016 Legislative Session. One of the issues facing lawmakers is how to respond to the people's approval of Initiative 1366 last November. Opponents of the measure have filed a lawsuit asking the courts to declare the proposal unconstitutional. That case will be heard January 19 in King County Superior Court. Last Friday the Attorney General filed arguments defending Initiative 1366 . . . READ MORE

New Poll: Lawmakers should act on supermajority for taxes amendment

According to a new statewide poll, a supermajority of voters want lawmakers to act on a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority for tax increases. The poll, commissioned by the Washington Policy Center, ran December 28-30 and was conducted by Elway Research, INC . . . READ MORE

69% of state's legislative districts approved I-1366

According to a breakdown by the Secretary of State's Office, voters in 69% of Washington's legislative districts (34 of 49) approved I-1366 (supermajority for taxes). This is significant since it takes support from lawmakers in at least 33 legislative districts to refer to voters a constitutional amendment. Assuming lawmakers reflect the preference of their constituents, there should be enough support to finally end the decades old debate about whether to require a supermajority vote to raise taxes with a constitutional amendment . . . READ MORE

Remote testimony being used in a galaxy far, far away (and Olympia)

If anyone still doubts the importance of allowing remote testimony during the legislative session, let me offer Exhibit A from WSDOT's I-90 cam . . . READ MORE

Congress wraps sales tax Christmas present for Washingtonians

We now know why U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is growing a beard - he is getting in the spirit of Santa Claus for Washington state taxpayers. Last night Ryan announced that Congress had come to a deal on major tax legislation. Included in the agreement is an issue long on Washington state taxpayers' Christmas list - making permanent the deduction for state sales taxes . . . READ MORE