Car Tab Cuts Delayed, Pierce County May Support I-976 Defense

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Supreme Court upheld a lower court's injunction Wednesday, blocking the implementation of a voter-approved ballot measure over objections from the Attorney General's office. A King County judge issued the injunction last week, keeping the car tab cuts from going into effect while a joint lawsuit over Initiative 976's legality moves forward. Most elements of the ballot measure would have gone into effect Thursday.

The Seattle Times reports the high court also dismissed a separate request, filed by I-976 sponsor Tim Eyman, seeking to reverse the injunction. Shortly after the measure was approved by voters statewide, Seattle, King County, and a coalition of other cities sued, claiming the initiative's language misled voters.

In Pierce County, where the ballot measure passed with more than 65 percent support, County Executive Bruce Dammeier has asked Prosecutor Mary Robnett to research ways to intervene in the litigation. On Tuesday, Executive Dammeier said the Prosecutor's Office would start research and background work to potentially support the legal defense of Initiative 976.

"We have heard the voters of Pierce County," Dammeier said in a statement. "As people elected to serve our residents, we believe it is our responsibility to do all that we can to make sure their opinions have impact and influence in this matter before the court."

The Pierce County Council will consider the request to intervene during a meeting on Dec. 10.

The state Office of Financial Management estimates the initiative would cost state and local governments more than $4 billion over six years. The coalition that filed the lawsuit says the law would severely limit their ability to fund roadwork and transit projects in a manner not fully reflected in the ballot language.