Chief
03-03-2008, 11:37 AM
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/16170987.html
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said Sunday she will sue in a bid to overturn the tax-limiting provisions of Initiative 960, a Tim Eyman-sponsored measure aimed at curbing the Legislature's power to raise taxes.
The lawsuit, which is technically against Lt. Gov. Brad Owen over a Senate floor ruling upholding I-960, will be filed on Monday morning with the state Supreme Court.
I-960 reaffirmed higher vote thresholds for tax hikes and was passed by voters in November. It requires all state tax votes would take a two-thirds vote in both houses. That was previously mandated by I-601, passed in 1993, which lawmakers have amended and even suspended at times. Under the initiative, taxes passed with only a simple majority have to go to the ballot for ratification.
Brown told The Associated Press Sunday the two-thirds requirement is "clearly unconstitutional."
"This isn't about 960, and this isn't about undoing the will of the people," Brown said. "This is about defending the Constitution and the Legislature's ability to pass laws under the Constitution."
Brown said they are asking the court for an expedited ruling. If that's not granted, she said they are asking that they rule before the 2009 legislative session.
Eyman said Democrats are upset their ability to raise taxes has been hindered.
So much for all of the talk during the Special Session about protecting homeowners from runaway tax increases...
Every time there is a tax limiting initiative passed in this State, someone in the Legislature sues to overturn it. These Pugetopolis Liberals are desperate to get their hands on enough money to expand Sound Transit and other projects up North, and the fallout is that it will benefit Cities like Vancouver eventually too.
Gotta keep an eye on this one, and I don't think it will take as long to tresolve as I-747 did.
Stay tuned...
8)
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said Sunday she will sue in a bid to overturn the tax-limiting provisions of Initiative 960, a Tim Eyman-sponsored measure aimed at curbing the Legislature's power to raise taxes.
The lawsuit, which is technically against Lt. Gov. Brad Owen over a Senate floor ruling upholding I-960, will be filed on Monday morning with the state Supreme Court.
I-960 reaffirmed higher vote thresholds for tax hikes and was passed by voters in November. It requires all state tax votes would take a two-thirds vote in both houses. That was previously mandated by I-601, passed in 1993, which lawmakers have amended and even suspended at times. Under the initiative, taxes passed with only a simple majority have to go to the ballot for ratification.
Brown told The Associated Press Sunday the two-thirds requirement is "clearly unconstitutional."
"This isn't about 960, and this isn't about undoing the will of the people," Brown said. "This is about defending the Constitution and the Legislature's ability to pass laws under the Constitution."
Brown said they are asking the court for an expedited ruling. If that's not granted, she said they are asking that they rule before the 2009 legislative session.
Eyman said Democrats are upset their ability to raise taxes has been hindered.
So much for all of the talk during the Special Session about protecting homeowners from runaway tax increases...
Every time there is a tax limiting initiative passed in this State, someone in the Legislature sues to overturn it. These Pugetopolis Liberals are desperate to get their hands on enough money to expand Sound Transit and other projects up North, and the fallout is that it will benefit Cities like Vancouver eventually too.
Gotta keep an eye on this one, and I don't think it will take as long to tresolve as I-747 did.
Stay tuned...
8)