The Washington Supreme Court struck down an initiative that would have cost state and local governments an estimated $4.2 billion in transportation funding.
"[A] measure promising to cut car-tab taxes to $30 a year has been blocked by Washington state courts," reports Melissa Santos.
"[T]he state Supreme Court struck down Initiative 976, a measure Washington voters approved last November to reduce the cost of annual vehicle licensing fees," adds Santos. "The measure has been on hold for nearly a year as legal challenges worked their way through the court system."
The state Supreme Court rejected the initiative on technicalities: because it combined more than one subject in one initiative. Eight of nine of the court's judges also said the initiative had a misleading title.
Santos provides the history of I-976, including information about its champion, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman. "One of Eyman’s main targets with the initiative was Sound Transit, which is building a regional light rail network paid for in part by higher car-tab fees. Puget Sound voters approved that transit expansion, and the increased fees, in 2016," according to Santos. This is the third setback for Eyman's anti-tax crusade in the state's courts.
More details on the expected consequences of the court's ruling is included in the source article. Heidi Groover provides additional news coverage of the court decision for The Seattle Times.
Previous Planetizen coverage of Initiative 976:
FULL STORY: WA Supreme Court rules $30 car tab initiative is unconstitutional
Judge Puts Washington's Transportation-Busting Initiative on Hold
Washington state voters expecting to see their vehicle registration fees drop to $30 on Thursday due to the passage of Initiative 976 on Nov. 5 might have to wait much longer after a King County Superior Court judge put the measure on hold.
Election 2019: Devastating Transportation Funding Loss in Pacific Northwest
Washington voters' approval of Initiative 976, which put a limit on car tab increases as well as repealing many motor vehicle fees, will have far-reaching consequences for funding road maintenance, transit, and bike and pedestrian projects.
State Supreme Court Clears Way for Defunct Airport Redevelopment in Maryland
The legal controversies over a zoning amendment approved in 2019 went all the way to the top court in the state of Maryland, but by the time the court ruled, the Bowie City Council had already repealed the amendment in question.
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If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
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The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
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Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
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The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
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