Vote yes on Eyman's initiative

Requiring the state Legislature to have a super majority, or a two-thirds vote to raise taxes, helped the state live within its means this year.

The state's budget was reduced from $34 billion to about $32 billion, likely because it had this requirement in place.

To continue decreased spending, Tim Eyman's Initiative 1185 is on the November ballot again. It renews a current initiative to have a two-thirds majority in the state Legislature to raise taxes and a simple majority to increase fees.

The anti-tax activist is running his initiative again before a two-year clock runs out. After two years, the Legislature can suspend the initiative (and others) with only a simple majority vote. During the first two years of an initiative, only a super majority vote is needed to suspend it.

Eyman keeps taking his initiative to voters because a super majority is needed in the House and Senate to amend the state constitution's voting requirements.

Voters passed this initiative four times prior because they wanted it more difficult for lawmakers to approve tax and fee hikes.

Keeping a check in place is important to our state in the current economic environment.

Many of Washington's residents and businesses cannot easily absorb increases in their budgets. Initiative 1185 protects voters and their wallets with this added check.

Already 18 states require a super majority vote to raise taxes. The states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to the Washington Policy Center's website.

In Washington state, voters approved a two-thirds requirement (or a restatement of the requirement) in 1991, 1998, 2007 and 2010.

When the two-thirds requirement was suspended in 2010, taxes increased in many areas. The business and occupation tax was hiked, soda, bottled water, beer, candy and gum were taxed, and tobacco taxes increased.

Exemptions were removed in the real estate excise tax. Increases were seen in the 911 excise tax and public utility district taxes. Hospital beds were also taxed.

We believe voting yes on Initiative 1185 would encourage lawmakers to better prioritize the state's spending and make tough decisions concerning government's role and reach.

For the state (and the country) to fully recover from the Great Recession, taxpayers need additional income to spend to revitalize their local economies.

Businesses require some relief to hire or reinstate former employees, restore cut salaries, expand operations or simply stay afloat.

People without the taxpayers' money to spend must live within their means and so should state government.

We encourage you to vote yes on Initiative 1185.

- Editorial Board