Washington State Citizens Lose Their Voice

If the will of the people stands in your way, suspend their voice.

That is the message Democrats in the House sent tonight to Washington State voters when they passed SB 6130 suspending the tax restraint voters placed on them in 2007 through I-960.

Legislators now plan to unleash a series of bills raising our taxes to pay their bills.

And as a result "we the people" will unleash an aggressive effort to unseat all 26 Senators and 51 House members who voted yea. Count on it!

Statement from Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale:

“Citizens across this state who are worried about their financial well being lost their voices tonight. Majority Democrats have decided to defend the status quo in state government at the expense of struggling families and employers.

At a time when there should be public hearings on solutions to restructure state government and create jobs, majority Democrats have decided to focus on ways to increase taxes and fees in a down economy.

It really reveals an out-of-touch approach and is why so many people have grown distrustful of business as usual in Olympia.”

Quick Facts:

The Taxpayer Protection Act (I-960) passed in 2007. Current law requires: a two-thirds vote of the Legislature for tax increases; public e-mail notifications for tax increase proposals; and citizen advisory votes on tax increases.

Senate Bill 6130, as passed by the state House, would remove the two-thirds vote requirement of the Legislature for tax increases immediately after being signed into law by the governor.

There are currently 77 bills in the state House that, when combined, would increase taxes and fees by $11.46 billion in the state’s next two-year budget cycle.