Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, and ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement regarding today’s ruling by a King County Superior Court on Initiative 1053:
“House Republicans have believed all along this lawsuit lacked merit and Initiative 1053 is in fact constitutional. The idea that a two-thirds vote of the Legislature should be required to raise taxes is important and one that voters have supported four times in the past.
“We also believe this taxpayer protection should have never been cast aside by Democrats and the governor in 2010, and were not surprised when nearly 64 percent of voters decided to reinstate it later that year in the general election.
“In addition, a supermajority of the Legislature came together this year to narrow the first mortgage interest deduction under the B&O tax for large, out-of-state banks – proving that Initiative 1053 is working as intended.
“We’re very pleased to hear that Attorney General Rob McKenna will be appealing this case to the state Supreme Court. We trust that the voice of the voters will be heard and the rights of the people will be upheld by the higher court.”
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FOR RADIO: Rep. Gary Alexander says a ruling by a King County Superior Court judge that Initiative 1053 is unconstitutional should be overturned. The initiative requires the Legislature to have a two-thirds majority approval to raise taxes. Alexander, R-Olympia, praised state Attorney General Rob McKenna for planning to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court. The House Republican budget leader is concerned that if the ruling is upheld, it will open the floodgate for Democrats to raise taxes.
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