Ballot Measures

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What's New

2011 Election Resources from Washington Policy Center

State argues 18-year-old 2/3 vote requirement for taxes is constitutional

January 24, 2012

Acting on behalf of the state the Attorney General's Office has once again argued the 1993 voter-approved requirement for a 2/3 vote to raise taxes is constitutional (policy has been subsequently re-approved by the voters and legislature on multiple occasions). 

Here are some pull quotes from the state's motion for summary judgment in the most recent legal challenge:

History of Washington State Tax Ballot Measures Since 1932

Jan. 18, 2012 in Publications
By

Jason Mercier, Director, Center for Government Reform

, January 2012

Introduction

Governor Gregoire and some Democratic legislators say they do not believe the state’s 2011–13 budget can be balanced without imposing tax increases. Realizing the required two-thirds vote does not exist in the Legislature to raise taxes, some lawmakers say they will withhold their vote for a budget unless a tax increase ballot measure is sent to voters for consideration. Complicating this strategy are two factors — the 2012 election calendar and the likelihood Washington voters would once again reject a tax increase.

History of tax ballot measures in WA since 1932

January 11, 2012

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.

Voters may be asked to increase sales tax by half a billion dollars

November 22, 2011

Thanks to Washingtonians' approval of I-1053's 2/3 vote requirement for tax increases in 2010, voters will have the final say on any potential tax increases in 2012.

Election 2011: Transportation Ballot Measures Roundup

Council of State Governments November 10, 2011 in In the News
Source: 
Council of State Governments
Date: 
November 9, 2011
Link: 
http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/content/election-2011-transportation-ballot-measures-roundup

Voters in Seven Cities Reject Photo Enforcement, including WA State

November 09, 2011

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.