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Senate vote requires higher threshold for new taxes

The Columbian
Published: January 11, 2015, 4:00pm
2 Photos
Aizza Benitez, 8, looks in on the nearly empty House Chambers Thursday during a visit to the Capitol in Olympia.
Aizza Benitez, 8, looks in on the nearly empty House Chambers Thursday during a visit to the Capitol in Olympia. Photo Gallery

OLYMPIA — The Senate took quick action at the start of the newest legislative session, approving a rule change that would make it harder for that chamber to take action on new taxes.

The rule change, filed by Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, would require a two-thirds vote of the Senate for any bill that creates a new tax in order to advance to the chamber floor for a final vote. It’s less sweeping than a plan proposed last week by fellow Republican Sens. Doug Ericksen and Michael Baumgartner, who were seeking that higher threshold for all tax bills.

Currently, a measure passes when 25 of the Senate’s 49 members approve it. The proposed rule change would apply only to new taxes being considered by the chamber by requiring two-thirds — or 33 — votes.

Under the rule change, if a referendum clause that requires a public vote is attached to the bill, only a simple majority vote of 25 votes would be required.

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