Video: Will voters be asked to revisit class sizes?

By Robert Mak

Video: Will voters be asked to revisit class sizes?

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Robert Mak

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Robert Mak Feb 6, 2018

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Video: Will voters be asked to revisit class sizes?</h1>
                <h2><p>By Robert Mak</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/rmak-seattletopstory-com/">Robert Mak</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <!--kg-card-begin: html--><p>By Robert Mak</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/119619956" width="500"></iframe></p>
<p>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.</p>
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<li>I-1351 passed in November with 51% of the vote.&nbsp; 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.</li>
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<li>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.</li>
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<li>The State Constitution allows legislators to suspend an initiative with a two-thirds vote of the legislature.&nbsp; However, lawmakers are doubtful they can get a two-thirds vote.&nbsp; They believe sending the initiative back to voters would require only a simple majority vote of the legislature.</li>
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<li>Voters would be asked to amend or repeal the initiative.&nbsp; Lawmakers are contemplating&nbsp;narrowing the initiative to smaller class sizes in K-3; others are thinking about asking voters to raise taxes to pay for the initiative.</li>
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By Robert Mak

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.

Robert Mak

By Robert Mak

Robert Mak is a principal of Seattletopstory.com and a longtime broadcast reporter in Western Washington.

Robert Mak is a principal of Seattletopstory.com and a longtime broadcast reporter in Western Washington.