Opponents of an anti-tax initiative in Washington state are filing a lawsuit to prevent the measure from appearing on the November ballot.
Tim Eyman’s most recent initiative would reduce state sales tax unless the legislature sends voters a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds majority vote for tax increases.
Washington voters and lawmakers have approved supermajority requirements for tax hikes before. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that this requirement was unconstitutional. When a group of state lawmakers tried again this past session, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen said the same.
Opponents say the initiative is “blackmail,” and the ballot process was never intended as way to change the state’s constitution. But the group behind Eyman’s initiative says it’s dangerous to interfere with the initiative process.
Editor's note: this story has been edited to clarify the process by which the legislature may consider a supermajority requirement for taxes under this initiative.
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