Free Republic

OLYMPIA—The coalition fighting to save the provisions of I-601 requiring a two-thirds vote to raise taxes announced today that three more groups have joined their cause — one as a plaintiff and two others by filing amicus curiae briefs. Citing its longstanding ideals of fiscal responsibility in the government and honoring the will of the voters, the Washington Association of REALTORS® has joined the Saving I-601 Coalition as a plaintiff. Both the Institute for Justice and the Association of Washington Business (AWB) have demonstrated their support by filing amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in support of saving I-601....

OLYMPIA— The State Supreme Court today agreed to hear the case protecting the people’s rights to file a referendum on legislative actions, guaranteed by the state constitution. The hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2005. Last month, the Washington Farm Bureau, the Building Industry Association, the Washington State Grange, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the Secretary of State’s denial of the referendum filed by the Farm Bureau on SB 6078. SB 6078 suspended the voter-approved Initiative 601 that limited government spending and required a two-thirds vote in both houses to...