In response to Steve Horenstein’s Sept. 17 letter, “Failure guaranteed by GOP senators,” it wasn’t just three Clark County “no” votes. As one report of the vote stated: “As the count went up on the display, the vote was 49 to 41 — one short of the needed constitutional majority of 50. Realizing the package wouldn’t pass, Rep. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, flipped to a ‘no’ vote, making the final tally 48 to 42. Under House rules, he could then make a motion for reconsideration.” (Did I read that a Democrat was a tipping vote?)
The close vote set the stage for heavy pressure from lobbyists as Washington state’s special legislative session ground on.
David Postman, spokesman for Gov. Jay Inslee, who supports both the overall package and the Interstate 5 bridge complex, said the business community and other supporters would try to persuade lawmakers to vote for the gas-tax measure.
After Sen. Don Benton’s, R-Vancouver, 74-vote recount re-election victory, the Senate stood at 26 Democrats vs. 23 Republicans. Two conservative Democrats switched to caucus with the Republicans so now it stood at 24 Democrats to 25 Republicans, setting this nail-biter up as it played out.
