Ballot Measures Blog

On Friday, a coalition of Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives came together, by a vote of 69 to 26, to pass HB 2824, a bill to repeal Initiative 728.  More than 70% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans voted for the bill.  The unfunded Initiative was enacted by voters in 2000 to spend additional money on reduced class sizes, after-school programs, professional development for teachers, pre-school programs, and the hiring of more school district employees.    

If history is any guide, lawmakers intent on going to the ballot with a tax increase proposal will face more problems than simply trying to fit their proposal on the election calendar.

With the exception of targeted sin taxes in 2001, 1994 and a 911 tax in 1991, voters haven't been kind to tax increases proposals on the ballot.

From thenewspaper.com:

Voters in eight cities in three states cast ballots Tuesday to decide whether red light cameras and speed cameras should be used in their communities. Seven of the races went against the use of photo ticketing.

As voters across America head to the polls today, Washingtonians instead will be busy getting their ballots postmarked for the state's vote by mail election. While some results will trickle in tonight, it is likely that several races won't be finalized until later this week (or month) as ballots dropped in the mail this evening make their way through the postal system.