OLYMPIA -- Opening day of any legislative session starts with pomp and circumstance, including the swearing-in of new members.

In the House, where technically everyone is starting a new term, representatives get sworn in en masse. In the Senate, where only half the body was up for election last fall, they do it one at a time, starting with the veterans who were re-elected then moving on to the freshmen.

That takes a bit of time before they get to the more interesting opening-day activity, adopting the rules. 

That's often a yawner, but this year some Republicans have proposed adopting a requirement that any new tax must have a two-thirds supermajority to come to the floor for its final vote. Changing the rules on opening day takes a simple majority, which Republicans have if they all support it.

Democrats have been critical of the change. Gov. Jay Inslee, in an interview with TVW shortly before the session started, called the change "undemocratic", adding "it empowers people on the ideological fringe" of both parties. 

But Inslee and leaders of both parties say any budget solution should be bipartisan, which suggests they'll pass it with something more than a simple majority.

Stay tuned for an update on the rule vote.

 

 

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