Gregoire to bypass McKenna, seek ruling on tax voting

msnbc.com ^ | 1/5/12 | AP/king5

[ColdOne]

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is bypassing the attorney general's office and seeking court guidance on the constitutionality of a law limiting tax increases.

Gregoire said Thursday she is working with outside counsel to petition the courts for a ruling on Initiative 1053, which requires lawmakers to a have a two-thirds majority to raise taxes. Voters widely approved that measure in 2010, essentially removing taxes as an option for balancing the budget.

Some Democratic lawmakers have signed on to a lawsuit filed this summer that argues the law is unconstitutional because it prevents

[Ranald S. MacKenzie]

Some Democratic lawmakers have signed on to a lawsuit filed this summer that argues the law is unconstitutional because it prevents the state from meeting its obligation to schools.

The Dems pulled something similar in Nevada a few years ago. I don't remember the exact details, but the court ruled that an amendment to the state constitution was unconstitutional because it might interfere with school funding. That's right...the court ruled that the constitution was unconstitutional.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Fraudoire is going against the taxpayers? And other demonrats are joining in? Who’da thunk it? You get the govt you deserve. Enjoy.

[RitchieAprile]

Well, it was just an amendment. But that is what Fraudoire
and her crew are about. They regard elections as just as worthy to be gamed as unfavorable
election results. She is only there because they (the WA State Dem nomenklatura) stole
the 04 election from Dino. And now this. They were also going after the liquor privatization I-1183, which
we passed. Schools and children are always piously intoned when reaching into the taxpayers pockets.

[G Larry]

Guv is just following Obama’s lead and bypassing lawful process to implement her will....

[FromTheSidelines]

If she’s claiming she needs to raise taxes to fully fund education (which is required in the State constitution), then she is implicitly admitting that she and the Democrat-led House and Democrat-led Senate were planning to UNDERFUND education.

If a single dollar is spent on anything other than education, then by default the Governor and Legislature believe that schools are fully funded. Constitutionally, they cannot spend a single dollar until education is fully funded. They’re already admitting they are lying about the funding of schools.

[RainMan]

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