PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — There are a number of issues that Washington voters decided on Tuesday, but the 2 highest profile initiatives on the ballot dealt with guns and a tax on sugary items.
Carbon Tax
Initiative 1631 dealt with a carbon tax. Voters rejected this initiative.
Sugary tax
Initiative 1634 is whether to add a sales tax onto food and sugary drinks. Initiative 1634 would block local governments from new or increased taxes on food, beverages or their ingredients.
But this is one of those measures where “Yes” means “No sales tax” — and a “No” vote does not mean you want a sales tax.
Voters approved this initiative.
This is similar to — but not exactly the same as — Oregon’s ballot measure to ban taxes on groceries, which voters rejected in Oregon.
Age for gun purchase
When Washington voters decide whether to raise the age to buy a semi-automatic rifle to 21, it will be the culmination of a twisty-turny ballot initiative, high-profile supporters and an extraordinary amount of money from both sides.
Initiative 1639 would raise the age for the purchase of a semi-automatic rifle to 21. It would also expand the background checks for the purchase of these rifles.
Voters approved this initiative.
Not surprisingly, big money poured in from both sides of this initiative, including from the late Seahawks/Blazers owner Paul Allen. He contributed $1 million to Initiative 1639, which would also create “an enhanced background check system.” The initiative, Allen tweeted, is a necessary and reasonable one.