News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 26, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Statement by Gov. Gary Locke on I-695 Supreme Court decision

In response to the Washington State Supreme Court ruling that Initiative 695 is unconstitutional, Governor Gary Locke issued the following statement:

"Today, the Supreme Court struck down I-695 on four points. First, the Constitution says initiatives can address only one subject. The Court ruled I-695 violated the Constitution by covering two subjects. It established both a $30 license tab fee and required a public vote on all tax and fee increases.

Second, the high court found the term "tax" in the title of I-695 misleading. "Tax" wasn't defined in the traditional sense. Washington state citizens would have been bogged down by voting on such items as X-ray costs at public hospitals or library fees.

Third, the way I-695 called for a public vote didn't follow Constitutional procedure. A public vote cannot be made automatic. The Constitution requires a petition each time before the people can vote on a legislative act.

Finally, I-695 attempted to amend existing statutes without publishing the law and the proposed change.

Earlier this year when the Superior Court ruled I-695 unconstitutional, I called upon the Legislature to make the $30 license tab fees a law. This ruling does not change that.

No one believes more strongly than I in the constitutional right of the people to address tax and other public issues by statewide initiatives. But, we must remember the Constitution is the will of the people, and we must respect it."

» Return to this month's News Releases
» View News Release Archive

Access Washington