State Senator Calls For Special Session Over Initiative 976

OLYMPIA, WA — State Senator Phil Fortunato is calling for a special legislative session after a King County judge granted an injunction blocking the implementation of Initiative 976 Wednesday. Sen. Fortunato, an Auburn Republican, is running for Governor against Democratic two-term incumbent Gov. Jay Inslee.

In a press release, Sen. Fortunato said he would introduce a bill to align closely with the voter-approved ballot initiative while correcting issues raised in court, avoiding the delays of getting the matter settled by the Washington State Supreme Court. The senator cited a similar instance in 1999 when Gov. Gary Locke convened a special session after the state's high court declared Tim Eyman's earliest car tab initiative unconstitutional.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced his office would work over the Thanksgiving weekend to file an emergency appeal to the State Supreme Court. Ferguson said his office, which is defending the measure in court, is aiming to have the matter resolved in time to enact the initiative on December 5 as intended.

Gov. Inslee released a statement regarding the I-976 injunction Wednesday afternoon, saying the state would hold car tab funds in an escrow account as the legal battle continues. A spokesperson with Inslee's office noted in an email that the legislature is already set to reconvene for its regular session January 13, 2020.

Read Sen. Fortunato's letter to Gov. Inslee below: