This week we hear a request from Rep Dan Kristiansen(R)for LD 39.
Please contact our Leg 40 Reps and ask them to support House Joint Resolution 4206.
Phone numbers and Rep Kristiansen’s letter follows:
Rep. Jeff Morris(d)360-786-7970
Dear Republican friends,
Five times in the last 20 years, citizens have passed initiatives to ensure a higher threshold — a two-thirds supermajority — before the Legislature can raise your taxes. It doesn’t mean taxes could not be raised. It just means that the Legislature must have a larger consensus before it seeks to dig deeper into your pockets.
Democrat legislators, who want to raise your taxes, felt it was too much of a restraint. So they sued (effectively suing every taxpayer in the state) to have it overturned. Last week, they won the suit. The Washington State Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the two-thirds requirement. It means taxes can now be raised by only a simple majority.
House Democrats have already prepared a lengthy list of transportation tax increases. Hopefully, if those proposals pass the House, they can be stopped by the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus.
On Feb. 1, House Republicans attempted to add the two-thirds requirement into House rules. Majority Democrats rejected our proposal. Our next step is a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the two-thirds majority requirement in the state constitution. I hope you will join with me and other House Republicans in support of House Joint Resolution 4206.
In the meantime, let us know what you think! Go to our Web site at www.houserepublicans.wa.gov and contact your House Republican representatives via e-mail, telephone or letters. You may also reach us through the toll-free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.
Sincerely,
Rep. Dan Kristiansen
Caucus Chairman, Washington House Republicans,39th Legislative District