Sen. Val Stevens expresses indignation over thwarting the will of the people by
repealing the two-thirds majority vote requirement of Initiative 960.


OLYMPIA…After watching majority Democrats vote to dismantle Initiative 960, the taxpayer protection law, Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, described her concern that this will open the floodgates to job-killing taxes.
 
“Once again, the Legislature has seen fit to ignore the will of the people,” Stevens said. “Although we did save I-960’s transparency provision, which requires public notices be sent when tax bills are introduced, we were not able to save the voters’ main intent: To make it harder to raise taxes.”
 
Engrossed Senate Bill 6843 alters the initiative law so that a simple majority vote can pass a tax measure.
 
“This proves what Judge Gideon Tucker said in 1866,” Stevens said. “‘No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.’”  
 
ESB 6843 passed on a vote of 26 to 23 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. It contains an emergency clause, which means it becomes law as soon as the governor signs it.

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