Just three months after voters approved Initiative 1351 calling for smaller class sizes, lawmakers are thinking about sending the initiative back to voters — something that would be a historic move.
- I-1351 passed in November with 51% of the vote. State Senator Steve Litzow (R-Mercer Island) calls the initiative "irresponsible" because it directed smaller class sizes in K-12, but did not provide any funding to pay for the idea.
- The Secretary of State's office says it would be the first time in state history that lawmakers have attempted to return a recently passed initiative to the ballot.
- The State Constitution allows legislators to suspend an initiative with a two-thirds vote of the legislature. However, lawmakers are doubtful they can get a two-thirds vote. They believe sending the initiative back to voters would require only a simple majority vote of the legislature.
- Voters would be asked to amend or repeal the initiative. Lawmakers are contemplating narrowing the initiative to smaller class sizes in K-3; others are thinking about asking voters to raise taxes to pay for the initiative.
