This week Council members Pedersen, Herbold and Lewis are jointly introducing a last-minute addition to the 2021 budget that would increase the city’s car-tab fee from $20 to $40, in order to raise additional funds for much-needed bridge maintenance.
Continue readingTag: I-976
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.
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Your weekend reading
There are a number of reports and documents that have been published in the last couple of weeks and are worth paying attention to. So curl up in front of the fire, break out your reading glasses, and dig in.
Continue readingDueling motions filed in legal challenge to Initiative 976
With a preliminary injunction now in place, the fight over Initiative 976 has moved on to the next step. Yesterday, both the plaintiffs and the defendants filed motions for summary judgment, asking the court to weigh the legal issues and find in their favor.
Continue readingCity, 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 readingState Attorney General files emergency appeal of I-976 injunction
Yesterday afternoon, the state Attorney General’s office filed with the Washington State Supreme Court an emergency appeal of last week’s preliminary injunction blocking implementation of Initiative 976.
Continue readingShowdown Tuesday morning in I-976 challenge
Tuesday morning Initiative 976 will face its first test, when a court case challenging its constitutionality has a hearing before a King County Superior Court judge.
Continue readingCity, 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 readingCity, County, several other parties file challenge to Initiative 976
As expected, this afternoon the City of Seattle, King County, and several other parties jointly filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court to challenge Initiative 976. With this, we get a first peek at their legal arguments.
Continue readingBagshaw 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 …
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