OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state Senate is expected to take its final vote on the temporary suspension of Initiative 960, just ahead of the House and Senate Democrats unveiling their budget proposals.
I-960 makes it harder for legislators to raise taxes, which is why the Democratic majority needs it to be suspended. The Senate must agree to changes made by the House, which approved the suspension last week. The Senate vote is scheduled for Monday night.
Budget writers want a mix of spending cuts, tax increases and one-time fixes to fill a $2.8 billion deficit. But Initiative 960, approved in 2007, requires two-thirds approval from legislators to raise taxes — a significant hurdle compared with the simple majority needed to pass other measures.
