The state Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the legality of Initiative 1366, the tax cut or tax-limiting measure approved by voters, is unclear on Thursday. The court hinted that the case is unprecedented, as it has “never before ruled on an initiative that had such alternatives.”
However, the liberal court did rule that opponents, including some lawmakers, have grounds t to challenge the initiative. Essentially, The case can be argued before a lower court judge. Via the Seattle Times,
“If the initiative called only for a reduction in the sales tax, there would be no pre-election issues,” Chief Justice Barbara Madsen wrote for the court. “If it called only for a two-thirds constitutional amendment, it would clearly be outside the scope of the people’s initiative power. This court has never decided a case in which an initiative offered contingent alternatives and, if so, whether one invalid purpose would prevent it from being on the ballot.”
The liberal organizations already gearing up to battle the initiative in court, since—once again—they have once again lost in the court of public opinion.
As Shift reported, rather than take the message of I-1366 for what it is—a vote against Democrats’ tax hike agenda—the Left prefers to deny voters’ will. Voters have repeatedly approved initiatives calling for the two-thirds rule only to have them ignored by Democrat legislatures or struck down by the state Supreme Court—no doubt, that’s what the Left is hoping will happen again.
