State senate approves I-960 suspension for the third time

OLYMPIA — The Senate voted for the third time to suspend some requirements of Initative 960, including the two-thirds supermajority needed to raise taxes. In a 26-21 vote, Democrats managed a third round of a change needed if they raise any taxes to help fill a $2.8 billion hole in the state’s general fund budget. Republicans denounced it as a maneuver “in the dark of night.” Not so, said Sen. Jeanne Kohl Welles. “It’s not like the state of Washington has gone to sleep at 7:10,” she said. Among Spokane area legislators, Sen. Lisa Brown, D, voted yes. Republican Sens. Bob Morton and Mark Schoesler and Democrat Chris Marr voted no. Sen. Bob McCaslin, who was hospitalized last week, was excused and didn’t vote.