Emphasis on taxpayer protections is among the Legislature’s top priorities

One of the things I continually hear when traveling around the 9th Legislative District is this: “Joe, when are politicians in Olympia going to understand the ‘will of the people’ when it comes to raising taxes?”

Unfortunately, my answer is usually this: I wish I knew.

Voters have repeatedly told Olympia through the initiative process that they want it difficult – not impossible – to raise taxes. The idea of requiring a two-thirds vote in the Legislature or a vote of the people in order to raise taxes provides the public – the people paying the state’s bills – with some measure of assurance th...