New life for healthcare tax referendum in Washington state

A coalition of groups pushing for a sales-tax increase to pay for healthcare programs in Washington state showed signs of getting back on a campaign track, after appearing to falter earlier. House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, met with representatives from the Washington State Hospital Association and Service Employees International Union on April 18. "We have a group of organizations that are very concerned about these budget cuts and I think they'll be there to respond" to a proposal for a public referendum on a sales-tax increase, he said.