Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley.

OLYMPIA — State Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, expressed disappointment Friday following a Senate vote rejecting a two-thirds-for-taxes constitutional amendment.

Senate Joint Resolution 8211 would have given Washington voters a chance to vote on a two-thirds-for-taxes constitutional amendment. The rule would require a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate for any measure that raises taxes. Though supported by a majority of the Senate, 26-23, the measure failed because a supermajority vote was required. All Republicans voted for the measure, but only one Democrat.

“Washington voters should have had a chance to decide this matter once and for all,” Padden said. “They have voted for this rule six times, in the form of initiatives and referendums, to ensure any tax increase is debated thoroughly and thoughtfully.

“Unfortunately, an activist Supreme Court injected itself into a political debate and decided a public vote was not sufficient – a constitutional amendment was required. Today the people were blocked from deciding the issue.

“One of the key principles of our government is that its power derives from the people. They have told us repeatedly they want this safeguard. We should let them decide. The constitution tells us the people are preeminent over the government, and we need to remember that.”