Taxes praised, attacked

"Gov. Chris Gregoire praised the Democrat-controlled Legislature on Tuesday for passing a package of tax increases and budget cuts before adjourning their special session at 1:10 a.m.

The Democratic governor also pledged to help at-risk lawmakers defend their votes in the fall election.

She might have to defend the taxes to voters too. Tim Eyman, the professional ballot measure organizer, filed eight separate measures Tuesday to attack different pieces of the Democrats’ tax package that had earned the governor’s compliments."