Eyman files 8 initiatives to repeal newly minted taxes
OLYMPIA -- Tim Eyman is taking aim at $668 million worth of new taxes just passed by the state Legislature Monday by filing eight separate initiatives.
The initiatives would repeal taxes on bottled water, soda, candy and mass-produced beer, as well as a home mortgage tax and business service tax.
The biggest chunk of the bill passed Monday night is a temporary tax increase for service businesses - like attorneys and real estate agents - that would bring in about $242 million. Taxes on bottled water, soda, candy and gum and mass-produced beer would add nearly $156 million.
The higher beer tax of 50 cents per gallon - a 28 cent-increase on a six-pack - would bring in $59 million. Microbrews would be exempt.
The taxes were part of a revenue source lawmakers used to plug a $2.8 million budget deficit.
The Senate tax vote came Monday evening, and the Legislature adjourned the special session early Tuesday morning.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said that taxes are needed to pay for "the critical public structures that unite us together as communities."
"I'll never call it irresponsible to fund education and higher education," she said. "This is a balanced budget. To do it without any revenues would be beyond our values."
After struggling for months to agree on a revenue package to help balance the state budget hole through 2011, Democratic leaders came to an agreement over the weekend.
Separate bills raise the rest of the nearly $800 million lawmakers need to balance the budget, including higher cigarette taxes that would bring in about $101 million through June 2011.
The initiatives will be reviewed by the state Code Reviser and after Eyman gives his go ahead, the Attorney General will write up the ballot title and description, said David Ammons, Communications Director for the Secretary of State.
Eyman and his supporters will then have to garner 241,153 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
The initiatives would repeal taxes on bottled water, soda, candy and mass-produced beer, as well as a home mortgage tax and business service tax.
The biggest chunk of the bill passed Monday night is a temporary tax increase for service businesses - like attorneys and real estate agents - that would bring in about $242 million. Taxes on bottled water, soda, candy and gum and mass-produced beer would add nearly $156 million.
The higher beer tax of 50 cents per gallon - a 28 cent-increase on a six-pack - would bring in $59 million. Microbrews would be exempt.
The taxes were part of a revenue source lawmakers used to plug a $2.8 million budget deficit.
The Senate tax vote came Monday evening, and the Legislature adjourned the special session early Tuesday morning.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said that taxes are needed to pay for "the critical public structures that unite us together as communities."
"I'll never call it irresponsible to fund education and higher education," she said. "This is a balanced budget. To do it without any revenues would be beyond our values."
After struggling for months to agree on a revenue package to help balance the state budget hole through 2011, Democratic leaders came to an agreement over the weekend.
Separate bills raise the rest of the nearly $800 million lawmakers need to balance the budget, including higher cigarette taxes that would bring in about $101 million through June 2011.
The initiatives will be reviewed by the state Code Reviser and after Eyman gives his go ahead, the Attorney General will write up the ballot title and description, said David Ammons, Communications Director for the Secretary of State.
Eyman and his supporters will then have to garner 241,153 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.