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Tag: tax limits

WA revenue projections plunge $1.2 billion

WA revenue projections plunge $1.2 billion

More dire news for the state Legislature and Governor Gregoire:  The multibillion-dollar budget hole has gotten about $1.2 billion worse.  Washington’s projected deficit is now calculated at well over $5 billion. The state’s anemic economy and the huge budget gap will dominate the upcoming legislative session, and Sen. Joe Zarelli and other lawmakers are urging that an emergency session be held next month to get a head start on more cuts.  The governor already has ordered across-the-board cuts of over…

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Initiative petition release green-lighted

Initiative petition release green-lighted

The Office of Secretary of State has begun the process of releasing copies of petitions for about a dozen initiatives, most sponsored by initiative activist Tim Eyman. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks on Friday lifted his previous ban on releasing initiative and referendum petitions under the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act.  The Secretary of State’s public records officer, Brenda Galarza, on Tuesday began making arrangements with individuals who had requested the petitions submitted for 11 initiatives in earlier…

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Here’s your quick guide to WA ballot measures

Here’s your quick guide to WA ballot measures

Here’s a quick once-over from our state Elections Division (recap only, not the fancy wording from the Attorney General wordsmiths): Office of the Secretary of State 2010 Ballot Measures Overview Initiatives on the Ballot Initiative Measure 1098 – State Income Tax on High Income Earners This measure would tax “adjusted gross income” above $200,000 (individuals) and $400,000 (joint-filers), reduce state property tax levies, reduce certain business and occupation taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health. Initiative Measure…

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Voters wild about `direct democracy’

Voters wild about `direct democracy’

The use of  the initiative and referendum process ebbs and flows from year to year, seeming to track the economy and whether interest groups believe Olympia is attentive to their issues.  This year is one of those high-watermark years, with a record 75 initiatives to the people  filed and six headed for a statewide vote after meeting the significant signature requirement. According to a new tally from the state Elections Division Thursday, 2,230,902 signatures were submitted this year in support…

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2010 initiative season underway

2010 initiative season underway

It looks like 2010 could be a busy year for ballot measures. We’re getting word that initiative activist Tim Eyman is already in the field with his anti-tax I-1053, after picking up the unusually early endorsement of the state GOP over the weekend.   This follows the recent filing of two controversial initiatives by well-connected groups – legalizing marijuana and privatizing the state-run worker’s comp insurance program. Eyman’s latest plan presumes the Democrats will suspend his previously approved I-960 and raise…

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