2012 Washington Initiative 1185
{{Short description|Referendum on taxation}}
{{Infobox referendum
| name = Initiative 1185
| title = A measure requiring that legislative action to raise taxes without a vote of the people require a supermajority vote.
| yes = 1892969
| no = 1069083
| total = 2962052
| map = {{switcher |275px|County results
|275px|Congressional district results
|275px|Precinct results}}
| mapcaption =
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
Yes
{{legend|#2B2457|90–100% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#28497C|80–90% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#47729E|70–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#7D9CBB|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#B6C8D9|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{col-3}}
No
{{legend|#32320C|90–100% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#5D5D2D|80–90% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#8B8B54|70–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#BCBC83|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#DEDEBD|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{col-3}}
Other
{{legend|#EBEEED|Tie |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{legend|#808080|No data |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}
{{col-end}}
| mapdivision =
| notes =
}}
{{ElectionsWA}}
Washington Initiative 1185 was a 2012 initiative in Washington state. It passed with 63.91% of the vote,{{cite web
| last = Reed
| first = Sam
| title = Initiative Measure No. 1185 Election Results
| publisher = Washington State Secretary of State
| date = November 27, 2012
| url = http://vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/Initiative-Measure-No-1185-Concerns-tax-and-fee-increases-imposed-by-state-government.html
| access-date = June 17, 2013
| archive-date = September 24, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130924095745/http://vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/Initiative-Measure-No-1185-Concerns-tax-and-fee-increases-imposed-by-state-government.html
| url-status = live
}} but portions were declared unconstitutional in February 2013.{{cite web
| last = Schrader
| first = Jordan
| title =Supreme Court rules against two-thirds tax vote
| publisher =The News Tribune
| date =February 28, 2013
| url =http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/28/2494538/supreme-court-rules-against-two.html
| archive-url =https://archive.today/20130620004931/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/28/2494538/supreme-court-rules-against-two.html
| url-status =dead
| archive-date =June 20, 2013
| access-date = June 17, 2013}}
Ballot measure title and summary
The full text of the measure is available online.{{cite web
| title =Initiative Measure No. 1185
| publisher =Washington State Secretary of State
| date =January 6, 2012
| url =http://sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/FinalText_187.pdf
| access-date =August 17, 2012
| archive-date =October 17, 2014
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141017132058/http://sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/FinalText_187.pdf
| url-status =live
}} As described by the Secretary of State's office, I-1185 "concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government."{{cite web
| last =Reed
| first =Sam
| title =Proposed Initiatives to the People - 2012
| publisher =Washington State Secretary of State
| url =http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/Initiatives.aspx?y=2012&t=p
| access-date =August 17, 2012
| archive-date =July 2, 2013
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130702180842/http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/Initiatives.aspx?y=2012&t=p
| url-status =live
}}
{{blockquote|This measure would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
This measure would restate the existing statutory requirement that any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes must be approved by two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature, or be approved in a referendum to the people. It would restate the existing statutory definition of "raises taxes," restate the requirement that new or increased fees must be approved by majority vote in both houses of the legislature, and correct statutory references.}}
Support and opposition
Statements for and against each ballot measure are also available online as part of the official online voter's guide.{{cite web
| title =Online Voter's Guide
| publisher =Washington State Secretary of State
| date =2012
| url =https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2012/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx
| access-date =September 10, 2012
| archive-date =March 29, 2013
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130329073820/https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2012/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx
| url-status =live
}} As per RCW 42.17A on "campaign disclosure and contribution," the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission also posts campaign information online, including information for referendums and initiatives{{cite web
| title =Continuing Political Committees
| publisher =Public Disclosure Commission
| year =2012
| url =http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcViewReports/Committee/initiative_committees
| access-date =August 22, 2012
| archive-date =September 7, 2013
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130907101724/http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcViewReports/Committee/initiative_committees
| url-status =live
}}
The primary sponsor registered for I-1185 was Tim Eyman, who proposed 25 initiatives for 2012. Additional sponsors were Leo J. Fagan and M.J. Fagan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/initiatives.aspx |title=Initiatives & Referendums - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State |website=www.sos.wa.gov |access-date=2021-10-07 |archive-date=2021-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314171502/https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/initiatives.aspx |url-status=live }} Approximately 95% of the money to support the initiative was reportedly from "corporate behemoths such as oil companies ... the national beer and soda-pop industries and big pharmaceutical firms."{{cite web
| last =Westneat
| first =Danny
| title =Out-of-state money chooses what we vote on
| publisher =The Seattle Times
| date =August 21, 2012
| url =http://seattletimes.com/html/dannywestneat/2018963905_danny22.html
| access-date =August 24, 2012
| archive-date =October 26, 2012
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121026115210/http://seattletimes.com/html/dannywestneat/2018963905_danny22.html
| url-status =live
}}