NFIB/Washington has asked the Washington Supreme Court to protect the voters' right to file a referendum on legislative actions, which is guaranteed by the state constitution.
   Joining NFIB in filing the lawsuit were the Washington State Grange, Washington Farm Bureau, Building Industry Association of Washington, and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. In the last days of the recent legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill that overturned a voter-approved initiative, I-601, that limited government spending and required a two-thirds vote in both houses to raise taxes.
   The Washington Farm Bureau filed for a referendum that would give voters an opportunity in the next general election to accept or overturn what the Legislature did. However, the Secretary of State's Office last week refused to accept the referendum because the Legislature attached an "emergency clause" to the bill, which allows it to take effect immediately after being signed by the governor, instead of the usual 90-day wait, and blocks the voters from pursuing a referendum.