Voters spoke, but I-976 must get court review

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By The Herald Editorial Board

Tim Eyman, who for more than 20 years has made a career of championing anti-tax and other voter initiatives, responded quickly Wednesday to news that the City of Seattle, an association of municipal governments, transit agencies and others had filed suit to declare unconstitutional his latest appeal to taxpayers, Initiative 976, which is now certain to pass with about 53 percent support.

“Rather than accept the voters’ clear decision, Seattle government is suing the voters because the voters disobeyed and voted for it anyway,” Eyman said in an email blast. “It’s a slap in the face to the people who clearly oppose these dishonest vehicle taxes,” defending the initiative that promised $30 vehicle license tabs to owners.

Eyman must have known, however, that I-976 was going to face such a challenge in the courts, and not because the measure’s opponents are a cabal of transportation empire builders seeking revenge. Simply, he knew this was coming because he’s been here before. Many times.

Eyman, since he launched his first initiative campaign in 1998, has put 17 measures before the voters; six were rejected in elections, and 11 were approved. But of those 11, eight were overturned fully or partially in court, including his first $30 license tab measure, I-695, approved by the voters in 1999. By 2000, the state Supreme Court ruled the initiative unconstitutional because it violated what’s known as the single-subject rule, holding that ballot measures address no more than one subject, allowing voters to show their clear intent.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court challenges I-976 on single-subject grounds and on others, including that its title misled voters on its provisions and impacts; repeals state statutes without disclosing them to voters; that its statewide vote repealed the decisions of local voters; and, specific to Sound Transit, that it would impair contractual bond obligations.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-voters-spoke-but-i-976-must-get-court-review/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=10a29dd0f8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-10a29dd0f8-228635337

[lettucebe]

1. This has happened before in WA State -- same topic too

Don't recall specifics but it was a vote having to do with car licensing and after the voters approved the change, lawmakers said, "No, we don't think so." and that was that. I think this happened way back in the late 80s or early 90s. So, yeah, we can vote, but it doesn't necessarily mean what we voted for will actually happen.

[yewberry]

2. It was 1999. I-695.

It was unconstitutional but pieces of it took effect anyway.

This initiative is unconstitutional in the same way (multiple subjects) and also in that items that have been bonded out have to be voted on by the legislature (short version).

I agree with challenging the valuation process that is part of licensing fees, but taking a sledgehammer to the transportation budget isn't the way to do that. Bridges, roads & ferries require funding.