Our 2/3-for-taxes initiative from 2012 protected us for the past 2 years

 We worked really hard in 2012 to get our Initiative 1185 on the ballot.  We knew how important it was.  Our 2/3 initiatives have consistently and effectively deterred the Legislature from raising taxes for the 2 years following their passage.

        After I-1185 qualified, we worked hard to get as many votes as possible.  We succeeded.  It got more votes than any initiative in state history.  It passed in every county.  It passed in every legislative district outside of Seattle.  In 2012, almost 2/3 of voters passed the 2/3. 

        But just a few months later, in February 2013, the state supreme court said the 2/3 had to be a constitutional amendment and so I-1185’s 2/3 stopped being legally in effect.  But there’s no doubt it has been politically in effect for the past two years. 

       Initiatives have two kinds of power:  legal power and lobbying power.  Legal power is the power of the law — lobbying power is the effect a public vote for a policy has on elected officials.  The court took away I-1185’s legal power but they couldn’t stop its’ lobbying power.

       The people’s overwhelming vote for I-1185 kept the Legislature on a short leash in 2013 and 2014 when it came to raising taxes.

       2015? 

       It’s gonna be a war. 

       We are committed to fighting in that war on behalf of the taxpayers of Washington.