lawmakers respond to tax survey

By Jason Mercier
Curious to know if those that hope to represent you in the Legislature next year believe you have the right to settle the twenty year debate about whether tax increases should receive a supermajority vote or voter approval?
Washington Policy Center recently asked legislators and legislative candidates in 2014 about their support for allowing the people to vote on a constitutional amendment that would require a supermajority vote in the legislature to raise taxes. Supermajority vote restrictions for tax increases across the country range from a three-fifths to a three-fourths vote requirement. Washington’s prior vote restriction was two-thirds (The Supreme Court ruled this policy must be adopted via constitutional amendment instead of by initiative).
“Survey question to law makers and candidates: Would you vote to allow the people of Washington to have the opportunity to vote on a state constitution amendment to require a supermajority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes?”
At the end of the survey period, 100 legislators and candidates had responded. Of the 100 respondents:
• 93 answered “yes”
• 7 answered “no”
Of the 93 who answered “yes,” 83 were Republicans, five were Libertarians and five were Democrats. Of the seven who answered “no,” one was a Republican and six were Democrats.

During the past 20 years voters have enacted this policy five times as ordinary state law, but not as part of the state constitution:
• 2012: Initiative 1185 - Required supermajority vote or voter approval for tax increases (64% yes)
• 2010: Initiative 1053 - Required supermajority vote or voter approval for tax increases (64% yes)
• 2007: Initiative 960 - Required supermajority vote or voter approval for tax increases (51% yes)
• 1998: Referendum 49 - Affirmed provisions of 1993 Initiative 601 (57% yes)
• 1993: Initiative 601 - Required supermajority vote for tax increases (51% yes)
The Senate did vote last session to amend the state constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to raise taxes. This proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 8213) would have allowed voters, for the sixth time, to consider this important taxpayer protection. Although the measure received 25 votes in support it fell short of the 33 needed to advance to the House.
For the past 20 years the voters have consistently said they want their lawmakers to reach a broad consensus on the need to raise taxes or to include the voters directly in the decision. Although the State Supreme Court invalidated this taxpayer protection as ordinary law, its ruling did not negate the fact that on five separate occasions the voters have demanded this requirement, most recently with statewide passage of Initiative 1185 with a 64 percent vote and approval in 44 of the state’s 49 legislative districts. In fact, the tax limitation received more votes in 2012 than either President Obama or Governor Inslee. Allowing the people to vote on a constitutional amendment would be representative of the public will and would help end this debate once and for all.
After the November election results are known will post a new blog highlighting the survey responses for those that will serve during the 2015 Legislative Session.
To see all the tax survey responses and comments from lawmakers and candidates click here.
Additional Information
2014 Legislative Tax Survey
SJR 8213: Amending the Constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to raise taxes
Will voters get sixth shot at supermajority for taxes?
Supermajority Vote Requirements Are a Basic Part of Washington's Democracy