WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Jim Moeller: Statements on the King County Superior Court ruling (against Initiative 1053) that tax increases, including the closing of tax loopholes, require only a simple-majority vote

First and foremost, this ruling emphasizes — as if, frankly, we needed any further emphasis — that as Washington citizens and policy leaders, the paramount duty of the Legislature, as spelled out in the state constitution, is the “ample funding” of basic education for our one million public schoolchildren.

The ruling sets up in stark relief the unconstitutionality of Initiative 1053. Specifically, the ruling rebukes the initiative’s requirement that a two-thirds majority vote must be accomplished before a simple majority can enact and implement responsible

state-budgeting.

With the battles we have fought to fund education, this decision comes at a most opportune moment in time. Coupled with the Supreme Court’s recent McCleary decision as to proper school funding, this decision places the accountability for this fundamental civic responsibility squarely where it belongs: with the people’s voice — the Legislature.