Eyman says he will continue to press legislature after State Supreme Court invalidates two-thirds requirement for tax increases

By Evan Smith

Initiative sponsor Tim Eyman said after the State Supreme Court invalidated the requirement for a two-thirds legislative vote for taxes that he would now press the Legislature to keep taxes low.

He said that he and his partners would remind legislators that voters had approved the two-thirds requirement more decisively than they had most elected state officials.

Eyman noted that voters had passed the two-thirds measure five times by increasingly strong margins.

"The two-thirds for-taxes vote requirement was approved by voters in 1993 and 1998,” Eyman said. “In 1999, I-695 was approved (56 percent) despite opponents spending $2.2 million.  In 2001, I-747 was approved (58 percent) despite opponents spending $1 million.  In 2007, I-960 was approved (52 percent) despite opponents spending $1.3 million.  In 2010, I-1053 was approved (64 percent) despite opponents spending $1.6 million. And just three months ago with I-1185, almost two-thirds of voters approved the 2/3-for-taxes vote requirement.  For 20 years, opponents have spent millions of dollars trying to convince the voters to not support these policies.  In all those efforts, we had no advertising campaign for any of these measures:  we never put out a single TV ad, radio ad, or newspaper ad for 695, 747, 960, 1053 or 1185. But voters approved these policies anyway because they recognized the need for them.” 

"Almost two-thirds of voters approved the two-thirds-for-taxes vote requirement in November.  That's 1.9 million voters. It passed in every county and received overwhelming support in every legislative district outside Seattle (44 of 49 districts. The depth and breadth of public support for this policy is extraordinary. 

"In light of today's ruling, all eyes now move to the Legislature and what they're going to do. Eighty-eight of 98 house members and 44 of 49 senators were elected in districts with voters who overwhelmingly support the two-thirds-for-taxes vote requirement.  Gov. Inslee received 1.6 million votes, but Initiative 1185 got 1.9 million votes.  (My partners) and I will continue to work with our supporters to protect struggling taxpayers from higher taxes. It's clear our efforts are needed now more than ever. 

"(We) agree with Justice Jim Johnson who wrote: 'Consistent with the spirit and history of our Washington Constitution, I am sure democracy will carry the day’; the voters will not be denied their rights.'"