Eyman sneers as Gregoire repeals anti-tax measure
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved a measure that will temporarily suspend the tax-limiting constraints placed on lawmakers by voter-approved Initiative 960.
As initiative creator Tim Eyman, an uninvited guest, gave a visual disapproval, Gregoire signed the bill Wednesday afternoon, just days after the Legislature approved the measure. The bill spurred two weeks of heated debate in both the House and Senate.
Eyman-sponsored I-960 made it harder for lawmakers to raise taxes or to close tax exemptions, which is why the Democratic majority wanted it suspended. Under the state constitution, the Legislature can amend an initiative two years after its passage.
"That has been the way we've operated for over half a century, and it is a fairly common act, obviously with some real political risk," said Secretary of State Sam Reed.
Budget writers want a mix of spending cuts, tax increases and one-time fixes to fill a $2.8 billion deficit. But I-960, approved in 2007, required two-thirds approval from legislators to raise taxes - a significant hurdle compared with the simple majority needed to pass other measures.
The governor said she respects the will of the people, but the economic downturn has blown a $2.8 billion hole in the budget.
"I hope, I expect the people of the state of Washington will understand we're in unprecedented times, uncharted territory. And it's time for us to all stick together and work together if we're going to get through the worst recession in the history of the state," said Gregoire.
Suspending I-960 in order to raise taxes brought out the protests. And state Republicans argued they were being frozen out of the process.
"The Republicans have not been involved in any negotiations or discussions on the budget," said Sen. Pam Roach, R-Sumner. "It's just like it is in Congress. We're locked out."
Sen. Lisa Brown, D-majority leader, said if she had to work with Republicans to come up with a budget, she'd face "a logjam."
"Like you see in the U.S. Senate right now and California, where they have a two-thirds requirement for a budget," she said.
Democrats say they need more taxes to prevent severe cuts to needed services in the state, and they know that Republicans won't go along with that.
"Well, if the end game is to simply to raise taxes to solve the problem, then they're right. They're going to have to do that on their own," said Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield. "We're committed in not going in that direction."
Republicans say Democrats will pay for their latest move come election time in the fall.
As initiative creator Tim Eyman, an uninvited guest, gave a visual disapproval, Gregoire signed the bill Wednesday afternoon, just days after the Legislature approved the measure. The bill spurred two weeks of heated debate in both the House and Senate.
Eyman-sponsored I-960 made it harder for lawmakers to raise taxes or to close tax exemptions, which is why the Democratic majority wanted it suspended. Under the state constitution, the Legislature can amend an initiative two years after its passage.
"That has been the way we've operated for over half a century, and it is a fairly common act, obviously with some real political risk," said Secretary of State Sam Reed.
Budget writers want a mix of spending cuts, tax increases and one-time fixes to fill a $2.8 billion deficit. But I-960, approved in 2007, required two-thirds approval from legislators to raise taxes - a significant hurdle compared with the simple majority needed to pass other measures.
The governor said she respects the will of the people, but the economic downturn has blown a $2.8 billion hole in the budget.
"I hope, I expect the people of the state of Washington will understand we're in unprecedented times, uncharted territory. And it's time for us to all stick together and work together if we're going to get through the worst recession in the history of the state," said Gregoire.
Suspending I-960 in order to raise taxes brought out the protests. And state Republicans argued they were being frozen out of the process.
"The Republicans have not been involved in any negotiations or discussions on the budget," said Sen. Pam Roach, R-Sumner. "It's just like it is in Congress. We're locked out."
Sen. Lisa Brown, D-majority leader, said if she had to work with Republicans to come up with a budget, she'd face "a logjam."
"Like you see in the U.S. Senate right now and California, where they have a two-thirds requirement for a budget," she said.
Democrats say they need more taxes to prevent severe cuts to needed services in the state, and they know that Republicans won't go along with that.
"Well, if the end game is to simply to raise taxes to solve the problem, then they're right. They're going to have to do that on their own," said Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield. "We're committed in not going in that direction."
Republicans say Democrats will pay for their latest move come election time in the fall.
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