Want to pass an initiative? Figure out how to fund it, too, state Senate says

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Nearly 40 senators are supporting a proposed constitutional amendment that would prevent budget-busting ballot initiatives from being filed unless supporters also include a way to pay for it.

Sen. Joe Fain, a Republican from Auburn, says that under the proposed measure that he introduced Tuesday, initiatives that would cut or remove taxes also wouldn't be allowed to collect signatures if they don't identify what programs would be removed.

The bill, which has bipartisan support among its sponsors, would apply to all initiatives whose costs were determined to fall outside of the state's four-year balanced budget requirement.

To pass a constitutional amendment, the Legislature must approve the measure by a two-thirds majority and then it goes to the people for a simple majority vote.