Supporters of Washington’s new domestic partnerships law are hoping their narrow lead holds as votes continue to be counted.
Elections officials are expected to release additional results Wednesday afternoon.
As of last night, voters were narrowly approving the state’s new “everything but marriage” law that marks a significant expansion of rights for gay couples and unmarried senior couples. With about 50 percent of the expected vote counted, Referendum 71 was leading 51 percent to 49 percent.
The measure asked voters to approve or reject the final expansion to the state’s domestic partnership law, which grants registered domestic partners additional state-granted rights currently given only to married couples.
Meanwhile, the most sweeping plan yet from anti-tax activist Tim Eyman was soundly rejected.
Initiative 1033 proposed a growth cap on revenue flowing into the main checking accounts of city, county and state government.
Eyman acknowledged defeat last night as unofficial returns showed I-1033 being defeated by about 55 percent to 45 percent, with 48 percent of the expected vote counted.
Had the initiative passed, the growth in revenue collections at the state, county and city levels would have been pegged to price inflation and population increases. Any taxes collected above the cap would have automatically flowed into a separate account, which would replace property tax revenue in the following year, giving property owners a break on their bill. Governments could collect revenue above the limit only by getting voter approval for new taxes.
Some sources of income would be exempt from the cap, including the state’s constitutionally protected Rainy Day Fund and federal money to the state.
An estimate from the state Office of Financial Management said I-1033 could have diverted nearly $6 billion away from the state general fund over six years. Cities would have lost about $2 billion during that stretch, and counties would have lost close to $700 million. (AP)
