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Bill to reinstate I-747 law has life beyond
committee deadline
But measure
should have been passed today, says Orcutt
Rep.
Ed Orcutt said Democrat legislators failed to reinstate the
taxpayer protection created by Initiative 747 by deciding not to pass
House Bill 2117 out of the
House Finance Committee today.
Orcutt, Republican leader
on the House Finance Committee, is co-sponsoring House Bill 2117, which
contains the same language as his
House Bill 1170.
"HB 2117 had been moved to
the finance committee's voting list after we had a public hearing on it.
Because they deliberately removed it from the list, I made a motion
today in committee to put it first on our voting calendar. I believed
that because this bill has such strong bipartisan sponsorship it should
move forward," said Orcutt, R-Kalama.
"The committee chairman
opposed my motion, because he feels we have 'lots of time' and says the
bill has been declared necessary to implement the budget. That would
mean it is exempt from today's deadlines," Orcutt said. "He said members
on his side of the aisle have not had a conversation on the bill, and
suggested my motion might be in order later in the session. I hope so.
"But I'm still discouraged
that legislation to reinstate a voter-approved initiative -- one that
passed with 58 percent support -- is one that Democrats aren't ready to
move forward. And after several days on the agenda, why haven't they
talked about it?
Taxing districts could
raise their regular property tax levies up to 6 percent annually without voter
approval until Initiative 747 passed in 2001, which lowered the limit to 1
percent without voter consent. The tax limit saved approximately $1
billion before it was struck down by a Seattle judge on a technicality
in June 2006. A stay was granted later to reinstate the law while the
case is on appeal to the state Supreme Court.
"The Legislature needs to
reinstate this law rather than leave the whole matter up to the court,"
said Orcutt. "It is time the Legislature protected the taxpayers rather
than wait and see if the courts would. Taxpayer protections shouldn't be
left to chance."
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