Todd Herman

Tim Eyman felt like Charlie Brown after judge ruled against initiative

By MyNorthwest.com, Staff report | January 22, 2016 @ 2:46 pm

Tim Eyman shrugs as he speaks with reporters after hearing that a judge struck down his latest tax-limiting measure, Thursday in Olympia. The decision from King County Superior Court Judge William Downing found among other problems that it was a thinly disguised effort to pass a constitutional amendment -- which can't be done by initiative in Washington. The decision was an overwhelming win for Eyman's opponents, who prevailed on their major arguments, but it's certain to prompt an appeal. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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Tim Eyman channeled his inner Charlie Brown Thursday after a judge ruled against his latest initiative.

King County Superior Court Judge William Downing ruled that Initiative 1366 was unconstitutional and void. The measure, approved by voters in November, would have cut the sales tax by one percent in April if the Legislature didn’t allow a public vote on an amendment that would require a two-thirds supermajority for tax increases.

Eyman was “brimming with confidence.” He told AM 770 KTTH’s Todd Herman that he believed no judge &#8211 with a straight face &#8211 could find the initiative unconstitutional. But after Judge Downing ruled it down Eyman said he felt a little like Charlie Brown trying to kick a football.

“I had faith there was no way you could come to another conclusion,” he told Herman. “And this judge came to another conclusion.”

Eyman was testifying before a Senate panel considering a two-thirds constitutional amendment when he received a text from his lawyer informing him of the judge’s ruling.

The voters have never been more clear than they have been with wanting the two-thirds supermajority, Eyman said. The problem is that Eyman’s group is attempting to limit government’s power, he explained.

Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday’s ruling striking down the initiative will allow the Legislature to focus on its priorities without being distracted by the measure. The governor said those priorities include figuring out how to pay for education, deal with the state’s teacher shortage and boost funding for mental health and wildfires. But Eyman isn’t going to stop.

“They’re going to throw up road blocks,” he told Herman. That’s why Eyman said it’s important to keep coming back. “Eventually you can wear them down.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.