2012 Washington Initiative 1185
A measure requiring that legislative action to raise taxes without a vote of the people require a supermajority vote. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Washington Initiative 1185 was a 2012 initiative in Washington state. It passed with 63.91% of the vote,[1] but portions were declared unconstitutional in February 2013.[2]
Ballot measure title and summary
The full text of the measure is available online.[3] As described by the Secretary of State's office, I-1185 "concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government."[4]
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.[5] 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[6]
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.[7] 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."[8]
Results
Initiative 1185 was approved with 64% of the vote.[9]
By county
| County[10] | Yes | No | Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 3,313 | 71.88% | 1,296 | 28.12% | 2,017 | 43.76% | 4,609 |
| Asotin | 6,812 | 72.05% | 2,643 | 27.95% | 4,169 | 44.09% | 9,455 |
| Benton | 56,547 | 73.83% | 20,048 | 26.17% | 36,499 | 47.65% | 76,595 |
| Chelan | 22,498 | 72.98% | 8,330 | 27.02% | 14,168 | 45.96% | 30,828 |
| Clallam | 25,573 | 69.97% | 10,976 | 30.03% | 14,597 | 39.94% | 36,549 |
| Clark | 126,267 | 70.39% | 53,124 | 29.61% | 73,143 | 40.77% | 179,391 |
| Columbia | 1,573 | 71.79% | 618 | 28.21% | 955 | 43.59% | 2,191 |
| Cowlitz | 30,383 | 71.00% | 12,412 | 29.00% | 17,971 | 41.99% | 42,795 |
| Douglas | 10,746 | 75.35% | 3,516 | 24.65% | 7,230 | 50.69% | 14,262 |
| Ferry | 2,492 | 74.63% | 847 | 25.37% | 1,645 | 49.27% | 3,339 |
| Franklin | 15,861 | 71.99% | 6,172 | 28.01% | 9,689 | 43.97% | 22,033 |
| Garfield | 921 | 76.30% | 286 | 23.70% | 635 | 52.61% | 1,207 |
| Grant | 19,771 | 74.71% | 6,693 | 25.29% | 13,078 | 49.42% | 26,464 |
| Grays Harbor | 19,578 | 70.96% | 8,012 | 29.04% | 11,566 | 41.92% | 27,590 |
| Island | 27,277 | 67.43% | 13,173 | 32.57% | 14,104 | 34.87% | 40,450 |
| Jefferson | 10,203 | 54.11% | 8,653 | 45.89% | 1,550 | 8.22% | 18,856 |
| King | 485,998 | 54.26% | 409,717 | 45.74% | 76,281 | 8.52% | 895,715 |
| Kitsap | 76,878 | 64.43% | 42,433 | 35.57% | 34,445 | 28.87% | 119,311 |
| Kittitas | 12,096 | 70.00% | 5,183 | 30.00% | 6,913 | 40.01% | 17,279 |
| Klickitat | 6,562 | 66.99% | 3,233 | 33.01% | 3,329 | 33.99% | 9,795 |
| Lewis | 25,232 | 76.49% | 7,757 | 23.51% | 17,475 | 52.97% | 32,989 |
| Lincoln | 4,236 | 74.87% | 1,422 | 25.13% | 2,814 | 49.73% | 5,658 |
| Mason | 19,814 | 72.93% | 7,355 | 27.07% | 12,459 | 45.86% | 27,169 |
| Okanogan | 11,259 | 70.05% | 4,813 | 29.95% | 6,446 | 40.11% | 16,072 |
| Pacific | 7,008 | 69.86% | 3,023 | 30.14% | 3,985 | 39.73% | 10,031 |
| Pend Oreille | 4,789 | 74.28% | 1,658 | 25.72% | 3,131 | 48.57% | 6,447 |
| Pierce | 226,306 | 68.74% | 102,896 | 31.26% | 123,410 | 37.49% | 329,202 |
| San Juan | 5,033 | 50.24% | 4,984 | 49.76% | 49 | 0.49% | 10,017 |
| Skagit | 35,058 | 66.22% | 17,880 | 33.78% | 17,178 | 32.45% | 52,938 |
| Skamania | 3,611 | 69.76% | 1,565 | 30.24% | 2,046 | 39.53% | 5,176 |
| Snohomish | 210,498 | 66.76% | 104,806 | 33.24% | 105,692 | 33.52% | 315,304 |
| Spokane | 151,147 | 70.14% | 64,338 | 29.86% | 86,809 | 40.29% | 215,485 |
| Stevens | 16,505 | 75.99% | 5,214 | 24.01% | 11,291 | 51.99% | 21,719 |
| Thurston | 72,694 | 59.74% | 48,989 | 40.26% | 23,705 | 19.48% | 121,683 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,438 | 67.64% | 688 | 32.36% | 750 | 35.28% | 2,126 |
| Walla Walla | 16,753 | 69.99% | 7,182 | 30.01% | 9,571 | 39.99% | 23,935 |
| Whatcom | 58,529 | 60.42% | 38,343 | 39.58% | 20,186 | 20.84% | 96,872 |
| Whitman | 10,009 | 61.81% | 6,184 | 38.19% | 3,825 | 23.62% | 16,193 |
| Yakima | 51,701 | 69.56% | 22,621 | 30.44% | 29,080 | 39.13% | 74,322 |
| Totals | 1,892,969 | 63.91% | 1,069,083 | 36.09% | 823,886 | 27.81% | 2,962,052 |
References
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 27, 2012). "Initiative Measure No. 1185 Election Results". Washington State Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 24, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Schrader, Jordan (February 28, 2013). "Supreme Court rules against two-thirds tax vote". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ "Initiative Measure No. 1185" (PDF). Washington State Secretary of State. January 6, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Reed, Sam. "Proposed Initiatives to the People - 2012". Washington State Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ "Online Voter's Guide". Washington State Secretary of State. 2012. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ^ "Continuing Political Committees". Public Disclosure Commission. 2012. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ "Initiatives & Referendums - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State". www.sos.wa.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-03-14. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ Westneat, Danny (August 21, 2012). "Out-of-state money chooses what we vote on". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 6, 2012). "Initiative Measure No. 1185 Concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 6, 2012). "Initiative Measure No. 1185 Concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on August 29, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.