State Supreme court throws out Initiative 976

This morning the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that Initiative 976, Tim Eyman’s most recent “$30 car tabs” effort, is unconstitutional. The Court found that the initiative contained multiple subjects and that its title was “deceptive and misleading.” It overturned a lower court ruling that largely upheld the initiative.

Continue reading

City, County respond in fight over I-976

If not for the preliminary injunction imposed by King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson last week, Initiative 976 would go into effect on Thursday. But as SCC Insight reported last night, the state Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the state Supreme Court to stay that injunction pending further review. This afternoon, the City of Seattle, King County, and the other plaintiffs filed their response.

Continue reading

City, County file for preliminary injunction to block I-976

This afternoon, the City of Seattle, King County, and the other parties in the recently-filed lawsuit asked a King County Superior Court judge to grant a preliminary injunction blocking Initiative 976 from taking effect. This was an expected move, pre-announced last week when the lawsuit was filed. The motion notes that most sections of I-976 will take effect on December 5th, shortly after the election results are certified. In order to file the lawsuit, the plaintiffs must establish that they have standing to sue. That’s a bit tricky at the moment, since the election results aren’t certified. But the city …

Continue reading

Bagshaw on budget and I-976

After yesterday’s press conference on the city’s response to I-976, I had a brief interview with the Council’s Budget Committee chair, Sally Bagshaw, in which she discussed her approach to dealing with the aftermath of Initiative 976 as well as the endgame for the Council’s 2020 budget. Earlier this week, Bagshaw released her “initial balancing package,” and her colleagues are now preparing their proposals (aka “Form C’s”) for the last round of edits to the budget before it’s passed later this month. For context on the interview below: Initiative 976 cuts a $60 car-tab fee imposed through the Seattle Transportation …

Continue reading