Court to rule today on Eyman measure

OLYMPIA — Critics of Tim Eyman's latest anti-tax measure asked Washington's Supreme Court on Thursday to block Initiative 960 from the ballot, arguing it illegally tries to alter the state constitution.

Several justices, however, seemed reluctant to grant that request, pointing to the court's record of avoiding pre-election challenges to ballot measures.

The justices' skeptical questions prompted Eyman to all but declare victory after the unusual special hearing.

"I was just ear-to-ear grinning," the Mukilteo ballot-box activist said outside the courtroom. "This is fun."

The court quickly said it planned to issue a ruling on the case today.

The state says questions about I-960's status are putting pressure on elections officials preparing ballots for this fall's election.

Environmental group Futurewise and the Service Employees International Union are trying to stop I-960 from going to voters in the this fall.

The initiative reasserts and broadens the requirement — imposed by voters in 1993's Initiative 601 — for a two-thirds supermajority for taxes adopted in Olympia.

It also adds a variety of impact statements and broader public information on all tax plans.

It could result in more public votes on taxes.