Taxes: This Senate Democrat did support two-thirds vote

Re: “Anti-tax fever shows no signs of waning soon,” (TNT, 6/26).

I’d like to correct a mistake made in the guest column by Tim Eyman. He discusses the vote in the Senate Feb. 12 on Senate Joint Resolution 8211.

We were voting that day on whether to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature for tax increases. Voters have said yes to this idea six times, and I am sure they would support a constitutional amendment if they had an opportunity to vote.

I am in complete agreement with Eyman on this issue, but he gets one thing wrong. He says, “Every Republican voted to let the people vote, but not a single Democrat joined them.” Not so. I have been elected to the Legislature 10 times as a Democrat, and I was proud to vote for this resolution. I was even prouder that every single Republican in the state Senate joined me.

I just wish my fellow Democrats could see things the same way. Unlike many in my party, I think you can be a Democrat and still reflect the desires of your constituents.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Taxes: This Senate Democrat did support two-thirds vote."