Free Republic

A Snohomish County judge has struck down a key package of tax increases on liquor and cigarettes, agreeing that lawmakers illegally bypassed voter-approved spending limits to enact the new fees. The judgment, issued Friday by Superior Court Judge James Allendoerfer in Everett, invalidated an omnibus tax plan that Democratic lawmakers used to balance the two-year state budget during the 2005 session. State officials are likely to appeal the ruling, which essentially would require a statewide vote to keep the $263 million, two-year tax package in place. >snip Their lawsuit targeted the 2005 Legislature's overhaul of state taxation and spending limits...

State's spending limit to be put to test in 2005 OLYMPIA,WA – Today the state's Expenditure Limit Committee adopted the I-601 spending levels for the 2005-07 budget. I-601, Washington's spending limit law, was enacted by voters in 1993 in response to rising taxes and out-of-control state spending. Including the state's 2003-05 estimated ending fund balance and 2005-07 forecasted revenue, the state is expected to have access to $256 million in excess of the legal spending limit. State officials have already expressed a desire to spend more that the limit would allow. 2005-07 I-601 spending limit: $25,107 million 2005-07 forecasted revenue:...