Washington State Supreme Court Rules Two-Thirds Majority for Revenue Unconstitutional

This morning the Washington State Supreme Court released their ruling, 6 to 3,  on the constitutionality of Initiative 1053 which passed in November.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office Voter’s Guide, Initiative 1053 as passed during the general election required that “legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.”

Today’s ruling strikes down Initiative 1053 as unconstitutional arguing that the Washington Constitutuion controls the majority needed for tax increases and the Constitution only requires a majority of the members of the Washington House and Senate.

To reinstate a two-thirds requirement for tax increases would require an amendment to the Washington Constitution. An amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the Legislature.

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