Less than a month after Oregon voters approved $760 million in new taxes, Washington state lawmakers have cleared a first hurdle toward doing the same.
The Washington Legislature's Democratic majority is clearing the way for increases by brushing aside voter-approved Initiative 960, which requires a supermajority in order to hike taxes. Read the legislation (PDF)
Senate Democrats pushed the bill through that chamber Tuesday with a 26-23 vote.
The legislation suspends Initiative 960 until July 2011. Under Washington law, initiatives can be amended during the two years immediately following their enactment. Majority Democrats say the revenue is needed to balance the state budget.
House lawmakers could vote within a week to do the same, sending the bill on to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who has said the tax increases were needed "immediately."
Republicans have resisted the tactic and said Democrats were "thwarting" the will of Washington voters.
Sen. Joseph Zarelli, a Clark County Republican, said it didn't make sense to take money from state residents who were squeezed by unemployment and recession.
"People don't have jobs, people don't have money to spend. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to try to get more money out of the pockets of those who do have a little bit who you're hoping will actively keep their businesses afloat so they can hire people back and grow the economy," Zarelli said.
KING5 News Reporter Drew Mikkelson contributed to this article.
