Open Government

WPC's Center for Government Reform's mission is to partner with stakeholders and citizens to work toward a government focused on its core functions while improving its transparency, accountability, performance, and effectiveness for taxpayers.

Research Centers / Open Government / Research Centers / Government Reform / What's New

What's New

Next steps for the voter approved, but Court tossed 2/3 for taxes requirement

February 28, 2013 in Blog

With today's long awaited ruling by the State Supreme Court striking down the five-time voter approved requirement first enacted in 1993 that tax increases receive a 2/3 vote of the legislature or voter approval, what happens next?

That depends on our lawmakers.

Although in a 6-3 ruling the Court has removed this policy question directly from the voters, it made clear that:

Supreme Court to rule on Eyman initiative

February 28, 2013 in In the News
The Seattle P-I
Source: 
The Seattle P-I
Date: 
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Link: 
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/02/27/supreme-court-to-rule-on-eyman-initiative/

Lawmakers again try to pull curtain on sunshine laws

February 27, 2013 in In the News
The Columbian (Vancouver)
Source: 
The Columbian (Vancouver)
Date: 
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Link: 
http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/27/lawmakers-again-try-to-pull-curtain-on-sunshine-la/

The day legislative Democrats supported a 2/3 for taxes requirement

February 27, 2013 in Blog

Based on the overwhelming support for I-1053 in 2010 and I-1185 in 2012 (both passing with 64%) it is safe to say that Democrats, Republicans and Independent voters across the state support the requirement for tax increases to receive a 2/3 vote or be sent to voters for approval. Despite I-1185 passing in 44 of the state's 49 legislative districts, however, that support does not appear to extend to Democrats in the Legislature (with a few exceptions).

Legislative public notice for bill hearings starts to slip

February 26, 2013 in Blog

Up to this week the Legislature had been doing a decent job of adhering to its rules that require a five-day public notice before a bill is heard in a hearing.

In fact, earlier this year I was quoted in a Senate press release expressing my encouragement:

A sunshine bill that should never see the light of day

February 25, 2013 in In the News
The News Tribune (Tacoma)
Source: 
The News Tribune (Tacoma)
Date: 
Monday, February 25, 2013
Link: 
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/24/2487381/a-sunshine-bill-that-should-never.html

Tax preference review bill introduced

February 20, 2013 in Blog

A bipartisan bill to ensure tax preferences identify legislative intent and have performance metrics was introduced today by Senators Tom, Billig, Hill, Hobbs and Murray. Here is the intent section for SB 5843: