It wasn't even close.
That was the first sentence in a blog entry we posted on this site in November, 2010, after voters approved a supermajority tax measure by a wide margin.
Two years later, with essentially the same measure on the ballot, the result was remarkably similar.
It wasn't even close.
Initiative 1185, the latest in a long series of measures requiring either a two-thirds vote of lawmakers or a vote of the people to raise taxes, was passing this morning with nearly 65 percent of the vote, a slightly higher margin than 2010's 63.75 percent victory for Initiative 1053.
State lawmakers, especially majority Democrats, complain that the supermajority requirement ties their hands and thwarts democracy.
But they should by this point have no doubt about the will of the people: Voters want the supermajority in place -- even voters in left-leaning King County, where I-1185 is leading with a comfortable 54.48 percent of the vote.
Opponents of the supermajority requirement -- consistently and resoundingly unable to win at the polls -- are not done fighting. They have taken the battle to the courts, where they are arguing its constitutionality. The case is pending before the state Supreme Court.
But no matter what the court decides, lawmakers cannot ignore the consistent, clear message of the voters.
They want a supermajority requirement. They don't think it should be easy to raise taxes.
