In his first voting session as a lawmaker, Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, joined a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate to approve a bill reinstating the state’s 1 percent property tax levy limit.

King and other legislators met in special session today at the Capitol to reenact the tax increase cap created by Initiative 747, which had been overturned by the state Supreme Court on a technicality earlier this month.

“I promised my constituents I would put a high priority on fiscal responsibility,” King said. “I’m pleased to know that on my first day as state senator from the 14th District I could help restore one of the most significant taxpayer protections we have.”

King said waiting until the 2008 regular legislative session to address the tax limit would have disrupted local governments that have through Friday to set budgets and tax levy rates for next year.

Elected senator on Nov. 6, King took the oath of office from Chief Justice Gerry Alexander this morning so he could vote today and take part in Senate meetings. His ceremonial swearing-in will take place at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Yakima.

He was appointed today to serve as Republican leader on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, and to hold seats on three other committees: Economic Development, Trade and Management; Labor, Commerce, Research and Development; and Transportation.