By State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, 36th District

In 2007, 51 percent of Washington voters approved Tim Eyman’s Initiative 960.

The initiative has many provisions, but the provision that affects the legislature the most is a requirement that all tax increases must pass each chamber of the legislature by a two-thirds vote.

This is the same requirement to pass a constitutional amendment.

Last week, the senate approved Senate Bill 6130, which suspends I-960 until July 1, 2011.

The initiative as enacted makes it nearly impossible for the legislature to pass a fair and sustainable supplemental budget. And, not just because it reduces our ability to raise taxes.

This Eyman initiative is so broad that it severely limits our ability to close tax loopholes that no longer create the jobs they once did, limits our ability to end unfair tax breaks for out-of-state businesses that don’t apply to our in-state businesses, and even prevents us from transferring funds that could save vital government programs.

The simple truth is that the will of the people is about more than just reducing their tax bills:

• In 2009, voters rejected efforts to artificially limit services and cut taxes.
• In 2007, voters ended the supermajority vote for school levies.
• In 2001 and 2008, voters increased funding for long-term care services.
• In 2006, voters upheld the state tax and dedicated revenues to education.
• In 2005, voters upheld the gas tax.
• In 2000, voters increased funding for smaller class sizes.

During the three-hour floor debate of SB 6130, the minority party repeatedly claimed that by suspending this initiative we were ignoring the will of the people, and we should never change a voter-approved initiative.

To that I reminded my colleagues that we are a legislature, and the legislature is created to pass new laws and update old ones.

We are elected to be responsive to the needs and the demands of the public.

Amending laws created by voter-approved initiatives as well as legislature-created laws is a key part of being responsive, and both parties have done it.

In fact, Republicans as well as Democrats have introduced bills repeatedly that go against “the will of the people,” all with much wider margins than that of I-960, which was approved by just 51 percent of the voters.

In 1998, voters approved an initiative (66 percent-34 percent) to establish a state minimum wage. Since then, 22 bills have been introduced to amend the initiative, three in the 2009 session. Most of the sponsors were in the minority party.

Also in 1998, voters approved a medical marijuana initiative (68 percent-32 percent). Since then members of both the minority and majority party have introduced six bills to clarify, expand or regulate medical marijuana use.

In 2000, the voters approved limits on the use of body gripping traps for animals (55 percent-45 percent). Since then, there have been eight bills introduced by members of both parties to amend that initiative – including three just last year.

In 2000, voters approved smaller classroom sizes (72 percent-28 percent) and cost of living increases for teachers (63 percent-37 percent). Since then, budgets supported by members of both the minority and majority, in 2003 and 2009, have suspended or limited funding for these initiatives.

I-960 was passed in 2007, a much different time from now.

Today, our neighbors are hurting, many are unemployed and many of those who are not are shouldering pay cuts.

Our budget is facing a record revenue shortfall and vital government programs – programs that secure our economic future like the state need grant for college students – are facing elimination.

Amending I-960 is about being responsive, being fair and doing what’s best for our state.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Queen Anne) represents Queen Anne, Magnolia, Phinney Ridge, Ballard and Belltown in the Washington State Senate. She is chair of the Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee.