OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Legislature has passed a temporary suspension of Initiative 960, just ahead of House and Senate Democrats unveiling their budget proposals.
The Senate passed the measure on a 26-21 vote Monday night. It now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature. I-960 makes it harder for legislators to raise taxes, which is why the Democratic majority needs it to be suspended.
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.
