Washington Initiative 960, Supermajority Approval for Tax Increases Measure (2007)

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Washington Initiative 960

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Election date

November 6, 2007

Topic
Supermajority requirements and Taxes
Status

ApprovedApproved

Type
Initiative to the People 		Origin

Citizens


Washington Initiative 960 was on the ballot as an initiative to the people in Washington on November 6, 2007. It was approved.

It was repealed by the state legislature in 2023, abolishing the requirement for advisory votes on tax measures.

A "yes" vote supported requiring a two-thirds vote in the legislature and a public ten-year cost projection for tax and fee increases, referendums for certain tax hikes, and non-binding advisory votes for legislative increases not subject to a referendum vote, alongside other modifications to the tax code.

A "no" vote opposed requiring a two-thirds vote in the legislature and a public ten-year cost projection for tax and fee increases, referendums for certain tax hikes, and non-binding advisory votes for legislative increases not subject to a referendum vote, alongside other modifications to the tax code.


Aftermath

Washington Senate Bill 5082 of 2023

See also: Changes in 2023 to laws governing ballot measures

Senate Bill 5082 repealed the requirement for statewide advisory vote requirement for tax increases established by Initiative 960.[1]

State Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-48) said, "Advisory votes are non-binding referendums that do not carry any legal weight. They have no real impact on policymaking. These votes only pollute our ballots with anti-tax propaganda specifically designed to instill distrust in government—and they do it on our most fundamental sanctuary of democracy, the ballot."[2]

Washington Senate Republican Caucus issued a statement, which said, "The last time taxes were on the ballot in 2021, voters wanted them repealed. Proponents of taking away advisory votes argue that they are confusing or that voters get frustrated because the taxes they disapprove of aren’t reversed. Maybe the answer is to actually listen to the voters instead of taking their voice away? Democracy in on the ballot when it comes to advisory votes and the will of the people."[3]

Election results

Washington Initiative 960

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

816,792 51.24%
No 777,125 48.76%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Initiative 960 was as follows:

“

Initiative Measure No. 960 concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government.

This measure would require two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval for tax increases, legislative approval of fee increases, certain published information on tax-increasing bills, and advisory votes on taxes enacted without voter approval.

Should this measure be enacted into law?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.


Background

History of advisory votes in Washington

See also: Washington Rules for Approving Tax Increases, Initiative 960 (2007)

Initiative 960, which was sponsored by Tim Eyman and approved by voters in 2007, requires statewide advisory questions whenever the legislature passes a bill that increases tax revenue.

Thirty-eight (38) advisory votes required by Initiative 960 have been on the statewide ballot in Washington from 2012 through 2021. A majority of voters were in favor of maintaining 10 of the tax increases. In the other 28 cases, a majority of voters were in favor of repealing the tax increases in question.


Washington tax advisory votes
Year Measure Topic Maintain vote % Repeal vote %
2021 Advisory Vote 38 Tax on the premiums of captive insurers 42.85% 57.15%
2021 Advisory Vote 37 Tax on capital gains above $250,000 to fund education and child services 38.95% 61.05%
2021 Advisory Vote 36 Telephone tax to fund behavioral health and suicide prevention services 46.11% 53.89%
2020 Advisory Vote 35 Business and occupation tax on commercial airplane manufacturers 45.53% 54.47%
2020 Advisory Vote 34 Business and occupation tax and surcharge 37.99% 62.01%
2020 Advisory Vote 33 Heavy equipment rental tax 40.40% 59.60%
2020 Advisory Vote 32 Carryout bag tax 38.77% 61.23%
2019 Advisory Vote 31 International investment management services tax 56.75% 43.25%
2019 Advisory Vote 30 Tour operator/travel agent tax 44.19% 55.81%
2019 Advisory Vote 29 Excise tax on real property 35.20% 64.80%
2019 Advisory Vote 28 Nonresident sales tax exemption limits 55.29% 44.71%
2019 Advisory Vote 27 Petroleum products tax 39.22% 60.78%
2019 Advisory Vote 26 Online retail sales tax 44.77% 55.23%
2019 Advisory Vote 25 Financial institution tax 44.62% 55.38%
2019 Advisory Vote 24 Business activities tax 37.35% 62.65%
2019 Advisory Vote 23 E-cig/vaping tax 66.91%% 33.09%
2019 Advisory Vote 22 Paint tax 37.97% 62.03%
2019 Advisory Vote 21 Surcharge on timber products 41.10% 58.90%
2019 Advisory Vote 20 Tax on wages 37.08% 62.92%
2018 Advisory Vote 19 Crude oil tax 46.47% 53.53%
2017 Advisory Vote 18 State property tax 40.95% 59.05%
2017 Advisory Vote 17 Business and occupation tax 37.66% 62.34%
2017 Advisory Vote 16 Commercial fishing fees 45.59% 54.41%
2016 Advisory Vote 15 Alternative fuel tax excemption 40.10% 59.90%
2016 Advisory Vote 14 Dental plan tax 30.86% 69.14%
2015 Advisory Vote 13 Manufacturer tax preferences 36.59% 63.41%
2015 Advisory Vote 12 Gas tax increase 35.63% 64.37%
2015 Advisory Vote 11 Medical marijuana fee 58.73% 41.27%
2015 Advisory Vote 10 Oil spill prevention tax 51.32% 48.68%
2014 Advisory Vote 9 Leasehold excise tax 55.27% 44.73%
2014 Advisory Vote 8 Agricultural tax on marijuana 54.41% 45.59%
2013 Advisory Vote 7 Estate tax 51.23% 48.77%
2013 Advisory Vote 6 Retaill sales tax exemption 47.74% 52.26%
2013 Advisory Vote 5 Insurance premium tax 39.52% 60.48%
2013 Advisory Vote 4 Aircraft excise tax 53.54% 46.46%
2013 Advisory Vote 3 Leasehold excise tax 52.47% 47.53%
2012 Advisory Vote 2 Pollution liability insurance 45.00% 55.00%
2012 Advisory Vote 1 Omnibus tax preference 43.10% 56.90%

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Washington

In Washington, proponents needed to collect a number of signatures for an Initiative to the People.

Futurewise and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 775 went to court in June 2007 to block the measure from the ballot.[4] On September 7, 2007, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Initiative 960 staying on the ballot.[5]

See also

2007 Measures

Washington

News and analysis


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Senate Bill 5082," accessed April 24, 2023
  2. ↑ MyNorthwest, "Washington House passes bill to eliminate advisory votes on tax increases," April 10, 2023
  3. ↑ Washington Senate Republican Caucus, "Democracy on the Ballot: SB 5082 & SB 5209," accessed April 22, 2023
  4. ↑ Eyman's I-960 should be invalidated, Seattle PI
  5. ↑ Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Court says Eyman measure can go on ballot," Sept. 8, 2007
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