Democratic lawmakers in Washington State sued the state yesterday in a desperate attempt to establish a means of raising taxes on Washingtonians. This myopic lawsuit will overturn Initiative 1053, a voter-approved requirement that two-thirds of the Legislature must approve tax increases.

The Democrats falsely and outrageously believe the voter-approved two-thirds requirement unconstitutionally prevents lawmakers from sucking the money out of Washingtonians wallets for government funded projects.

This lawsuit bucks the Washington State Constitution and the will of the people of the Evergreen State.

According to the Washington State Constitution, Article I, Declaration of Rights, Section 1, Political Power:

“All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”

In light of Article I, Section 1, the Washington State government must follow the will and consent of the people. Washingtonians have spoken not once, but four times in regards to limiting the Legislatures ability to raise taxes since 1993. Furthermore, this is not decade old voter sentiment because I-1053 was approved by voters in 2010.

The potential condemnation of this lawsuit is overwhelming.

• On the prosecution side you have a handful Big Government Democrats.

• On the other side you maybe - just maybe - have Two-Thirds of Washingtonians who supported I-1053.

Washington State Representative Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, quoted in The Seattle Times, essentially stated that the two-thirds majority in both chambers doesn’t allow the Legislature to create a new revenue source.

Exactly - Washingtonians voted to approve the two-thirds requirement so Big Government Democrats like Representative Pedersen can’t create new sources of revenue that comes out of the taxpayers’ coffers.   Pedersen seems oblivious to the fact that Washington State has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. 

In a written statement, House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, poignantly expands on the Big Government Democrats desire to penalize families and businesses:

“At a time when so many families and small businesses are adjusting to economic realities and living within their means, House Democrats feel that state government shouldn't have to."

Ruling against Initiative 1053 admonishes the will of the people and all that work done back in 1899 – the year Washington State’s official Constitution was drafted. 

Tell us what you think.  Is Initiative 1053 good for Washington State?