Oregon Public Broadcasting

The rule that it takes a two-thirds vote of the Washington legislature to raise taxes – stands.

The State Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. She wanted the court to toss-out the super-majority rule. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Brown filed her lawsuit during last year’s legislative session. It came in response to a liquor tax increase that failed because it only won a majority vote in the Senate – not a super-majority.

Voters passed Initiative 960 in 2007 enacting the two-thirds threshold. But Brown argues it’s unconstitutional.

In dismissing the case, the Supreme Court said it has no role in deciding a dispute over internal parliamentary rules. Brown says she’s disappointed.

Sen. Lisa Brown: “We don’t have a ruling on the constitutionality of Initiative 960 and I still believe it is unconstitutional. Unfortunately, the court decided that the case was not properly before them so we still don’t have that ruling.”

Tim Eyman, the sponsor of I-960, calls the lawsuit by Brown “bogus” and says the Court was right to remain on the sidelines.

Online:

Supreme Court's Ruling