Bill to gut Initiative 960 dropped this afternoon, set for hearing tomorrow at 1:30
Posted by Amber Gunn - March 03, 2010SB 6843 - Preserving essential public services by temporarily suspending the two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases and permanently modifying provisions of Initiative Measure No. 960 for improved efficiency and consistency with state budgeting.
That’s the official title of the bill to gut Initiative 960. The bill was introduced this afternoon, around 3:00. In a meeting with the press, Senator Lisa Brown announced that it is scheduled for a public hearing tomorrow. So much for public notice.
The bill includes several parts, which collectively amend rather than outright suspend the initiative.
Sec. 1: Cuts down on cost projections--The fiscal impact of a bill that increases taxes or fees will only be determined when a bill is a scheduled for a public hearing (rather than when it is introduced). Rather than creating ten-year cost projections for these bills, the cost projections will be determined only for the remainder of the biennium (a one to two-year cost projection), plus a “cumulative forecast” for the next four years.
Sec. 2: c) Temporarily suspends the two-thirds legislative requirement for tax increases for the remainder of the current biennium (July 1, 2011).
d) Provides for the permanent suspension of the two-thirds threshold if taxes are raised for the purpose of funding voter-approved initiatives.
Sec. 6: Allows legislators to repeal or modify tax preferences with a simple majority vote (another blow to two-thirds requirement).
Sec. 7: Changes the meaning of “increases taxes” so that it does not include the repeal of tax preferences (loopholes), among other things. This also means that taxpayers won’t receive a fiscal impact statement on these bills, since they will not be considered to increase taxes even though, obviously, someone will payhigher taxes.
The changes to I-960 are significant enough to effectively render the two-thirds requirement irrelevant.
The bill will be heard tomorrow around 1:30 in the Senate Ways & Means Committee in Cherberg hearing room 4. It is currently listed as the last item on the public hearing agenda, meaning taxpayers who want to testify can expect to wait. The hearing will also be broadcast on TVW.
Thoughts? Add Comment -
Steve Neighbors said on Feb 04 2010 at 6:19pm
This bill is shameful. A blatant disregard for the will of the people by an arrogant, elitist ruling party. And if passed, Gregoire needs to reconsider her political future if she signs it. They can't even resist spending money and raising taxes in the middle of a recession. They can talk all they want about creating jobs. It's all rhetoric. This is a jobs killer.
Abby said on Feb 09 2010 at 11:16pm
Olympia (well, Democrats in Olympia) just gave a big ol' finger to the voters. They said, "We don't care what you want, we're gonna do what WE want because we're smarter than you." And what's sad is that many people in Washington will continue to vote for them.