In The News 
Latest Eyman initiative makes November ballot
Initiative activist Tim Eyman and his partners will again appear on the Washington state ballot this year. Their Initiative 1053, making it harder for Olympia to raise taxes, cleared its last major hurdle on Monday when the state Elections Division announced that the sponsors submitted enough voter signatures to make the November ballot. I-1053 became the fourth initiative to qualify for the ballot, and two others are widely expected to qualify, too.
3 Ballot issues qualify for fall ballot
Three ballot measures will appear on the November ballot, while eight others failed to muster the necessary signatures, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said Monday. The measures that qualified, if approved, would prohibit state and local governments from imposing new taxes on real estate transactions, end guaranteed hunting licenses for outfitters and cap interest rates that payday and title loan businesses can charge consumers.
State income tax: Voters will decide in November
Should high earners in Washington state pay an income tax? Voters will get their say. The secretary of state's office on Thursday said Initiative 1098 had submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Also Thursday, state officials asked the Washington State Patrol to investigate apparent fraud by a petition-gatherer for I-1098, a measure which seeks to impose an income tax on the wealthy. At issue are about 20 petition sheets with 350 names, signatures and addresses that appear to have been written with the same pen and in similar handwriting, said Dave Ammons, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office.
BP gives big bucks to Eyman initiative
While burdened with Gulf of Mexico cleanup costs, the North American subsidiary of BP found $65,000 to pour into the campaign that put Tim Eyman's Initiative 1053 onto Washington's November ballot. BP is the third big oil company to underwrite the campaign for I-1053, which would require a supermajority legislative vote to raise taxes.
Sales tax foes upbeat on prospects
Antitax crusaders yesterday triumphantly turned in what they called a “challenge proof’’ number of voter signatures in their attempt to put on the November ballot a measure halving the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. The push to lower the tax to 3 percent has been tried before, but supporters say the recession has created a newly favorable climate for passage. Opponents warn the measure would cut state income by $2 billion or more, gutting budgets for police, teachers, and programs protecting the poor.
Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in NJ budget
Gov. Chris Christie will propose a constitutional amendment limiting annual property tax increases to 2.5 percent when he introduces a budget Tuesday that will seek fundamental changes in spending at every level of government, according to administration officials with knowledge of the plan.
Representative pushes constitutional amendment to limit Kansas tax, spending increases
A south-central Kansas Republican is seeking a constitutional amendment to put restrictions on spending and taxing.
Oregon voters pass tax increasing measures by big margin
Oregon voters bucked decades of anti-tax and anti-Salem sentiment Tuesday, raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy to prevent further erosion of public schools and other state services.
Legislator targets public employees for pay cuts in constitutional amendment
Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop wants the Legislature to put two constitutional amendments before voters which would require an estimated 12,400 public workers in Muskegon County to take a 5 percent pay cut for the next three years and pay 15 percent or 20 percent of their health insurance premiums.
Earnings tax in St. Louis, Kansas City could be challenged in statewide ballot initiative
A campaign is under way to ask Missouri voters to eliminate the city earnings tax in St. Louis and Kansas City.
