OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A dozen Democratic lawmakers are asking a judge to overturn a voter-approved initiative that requires the Legislature to have a supermajority to raise taxes.
The lawsuit filed Monday is led by the League of Education Voters and the Washington Education Association.
The two-thirds majority rule was part of a Tim Eyman initiative that 64 percent of voters approved last year. Democratic leaders could not get Republicans to support any tax increases this year, forcing lawmakers to balance the budget with heavy cuts to education.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Pedersen of Seattle says the law unconstitutionally infringes on the power of the Legislature to pass laws and prevents the state from fulfilling its constitutional obligations to adequately fund education.
Eyman says the lawsuit shows a disregard for the will of voters.
