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Washington Tax & Spending Limits, Initiative 601 (1993)
Contents |
I-601 asked the question, "Shall state expenditures be limited by inflation rates and population growth, and taxes exceeding the limit be subject to referendum?"
Aftermath
On February 28, 2013, the Washington Supreme Court issued its ruling on League of Educ. Voters v. State and, in doing so, declared legislation requiring a supermajority vote for tax legislation unconstitutional. The challenge was initially filed against Initiative 1053, but is part of a larger issue concerning similar initiatives beginning in 1993 with Initiative 601.
The court found such supermajority requirements to be in violation of Washington Constitution, Article II, Section 22, which states that no bill shall become law unless a majority of each chamber votes in favor of it. The court's ruling concludes with,
| “ | Our holding today is not a judgment on the wisdom of requiring a supermajority for the passage of tax legislation. Such judgment is left to the legislative branch of our government. Should the people and the legislature still wish to require a supermajority vote for tax legislation, they must do so through constitutional amendment, not through legislation. | ” |
Election results
| Initiative 601 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Overturned Case:League of Educ. Voters v. State 87425-5 (2013) | ||||
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 774,342 | 51.21% | ||
| No | 737,735 | 48.79% | ||
Path to the ballot
The language for the measure was filed on March 5, 1993 by Gregory J. Seifert of Vancouver.
249,707 signatures were submitted and the Washington Secretary of State deemed that there were sufficient signatures to put I-601 to a vote of the people.
See also
External links
- Election results for State of Washington 1993 ballot measures
- 1993 Washington Ballot Measures Details
- List of all 1993 Initiatives to the People
- List of all Washington Initiatives to the People
References
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- Ballot measure stubs
- Washington 1993 ballot measures
- Taxes, Washington
- Taxes, 1993
- State and local government budgets, spending and finance, Washington
- State and local government budgets, spending and finance, 1993
- Supermajority requirements, Washington
- Supermajority requirements, 1993
- Initiatives to the People, Washington, 1993
