Voters will be able to vote on outgoing Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s climate if two ballot initiatives that limit natural gas use and repeal a tax on corporate carbon emissions pass on Nov. 5. This could be a major blow to the legacy of change.

Washington state residents will vote on two energy-related ballot initiatives: repealing the law restricting the use of natural gas (I-2066) and repealing the state’s carbon trading system (I-2117). a label is attached “Hidden gasoline tax.” Supporters say the passage of these initiatives sends a clear message to Washington’s three Democratic parties that they are not satisfied with residents paying higher gas prices than the majority of Americans in the name of climate change. I believe it will happen. (Related: Blue states impose new climate policies and gas prices are already rising)

Jim Walsh, chairman of the Washington Republican Party and author of the carbon trading repeal initiative, said: “Our nation’s radical green energy policies were introduced by a vocal minority of coddled activists; It is not widely supported and shared,” he told the newspaper. Caller News Foundation. “They are an unsympathetic interest group.”

Inslee is called The referendum is “the most important election in the United States outside of the White House.”

Voters appear likely to pass the natural gas ban initiative, with 44% of registered voters supporting it and 31% opposing it, according to the latest poll. public opinion poll From SurveyUSA conducted from October 9th to 14th. state resident appear They are less enthusiastic about supporting the abolition of carbon trading schemes, with 48% saying they would reject the initiative and 30% supporting it. However, 25% remain undecided on the Natural Gas Ban (I-2066) and 22% remain undecided on the Carbon Trading Regime Repeal Initiative (I-2117).

Walsh told the DCNF that while he acknowledged that the natural gas ban effort has more support because the bill ultimately champions “consumer choice,” both He said he hopes the ballot measure will pass.

“People like to cook with natural gas, and they don’t like being told they can’t get natural gas, even if they don’t have natural gas in their house or apartment,” Walsh said. told DCNF.

“We are confident in 2117.” [the carbon trading system repeal] and 2066 [the natural gas ban prohibition] “We’ve been talking to voters on the ground over the last six months, and they’re saying the same thing: It’s too expensive,” said Brian Heywood’s political committee, which funded the push for the bill. Let’s Go Washington spokesperson Harry Balch said. He told DCNF to put these efforts on voters’ ballots.

Both petitions gathered more signatures than any initiative filed in Washington state in the past 20 years. Natural gas ban received The petition to repeal the carbon trading system gathered more than 466,000 signatures, the second most in state history, with more than 514,000 signatures, the fourth most.

Walsh told the DCNF that nearly 60% of the signatures came from independents and registered Democrats, and that voters who voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris would also vote in support of these efforts. He said there was.

Let’s Go Washington and Walsh believe cost-of-living concerns are a major reason why these two initiatives have garnered so much support among Washington residents.

Today’s average gas price in Washington is 3rd the best Nationally, it costs about $4.04 per gallon, nearly $1 more than the national average of $3.13 per gallon. Washington Business Association (AWB) in January projected Washington’s carbon market trading program has been responsible for a 45 cent increase in gasoline prices since it began operating in January 2023, the report said.

‘I almost got it’: President Trump slams Black-owned barbershop event with gas price joke pic.twitter.com/0m7h6oo5Oq

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“I’d be happy to bet with you” Heywood said dA discussion on abolishing the carbon trading system is being held at Seattle University on October 10th. “For the year 2117 [the carbon trading system repeal] Gasoline prices will be lower compared to other states because of the 25-50% tax. ”

If I-2117 fails, Heywood predicts gas prices will continue to rise as the price of carbon in the carbon trading system increases. “It’s designed to drive up prices,” Heywood added.

“I-2117 [the carbon trading system repeal] Reduce costs by saving 30 to 50 cents per gallon of gasoline and I-2066 [the natural gas ban prohibition] “We will reduce costs for homeowners and buyers by removing some of the most restrictive building codes in the country and eliminating the need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to retrofit homes with electricity,” said Balch. told DCNF.

The abolition of carbon trading schemes is noteworthy. opposed Powered by Amazon, BP America, Microsoft, Environmental Defense Fund, and over 500 other organizations. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer are among the largest donors to the No On 2117 committee. distribute $1 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Let’s Go Washington told DCNF that more than $40 million in total is being spent on decommissioning the carbon trading system and other efforts.

Opponents of I-2117 say repealing the state’s carbon trading system would lead to significant cuts to the state’s transportation and infrastructure budget, which is partially funded by government revenue from taxing corporate carbon emissions. insisted.

“It would undermine programs that protect communities from wildfires, jeopardize critical protections for waterways including rivers, lakes and streams, and eliminate efforts to support salmon recovery and fish habitat. ” said Kelsey Kneeland, spokesperson for the No On 2117 campaign. DCNF. “And by forcing $5.4 billion in cuts to the state’s transportation funding, it will negatively impact every corner of the state, delaying or even canceling major road and bridge projects that address congestion, safety, and freight transportation. You will be at risk.”

Proponents of repealing the carbon trading system have not proposed an alternative source of government revenue that could continue to pay for these projects.

“It’s up to Congress to negotiate a better budget next Congress,” Walsh, who is also a state Republican, told DCNF. “If we adjust and negotiate a better budget, there will be no negative impact. And even if we negotiate an improved operating budget in future budget negotiations, the projected impact will be less or no.” There is a good chance that it will.”

Mr Heywood also criticized the state government for not putting in place accountability mechanisms to measure the climate impact of projects it funds through revenues from the carbon trading system.

“They have no way of measuring the results of the money they spend,” Heywood said at a Seattle University debate. “This is all a false promise of money so they can pay political supporters.”

“This is a huge scandal,” Heywood added. (Related: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee reveals nearly $1 billion plan to redirect tax dollars to green energy industry)

Walsh told DCNF that while there could have been more work on getting Washington residents to vote this election, the Washington Legislature: passed The most popular measures in Congress this year.

“They were afraid that if all six people were on the ballot now, there would be an overwhelming wave of red voters,” Walsh told DCNF. “It’s a very powerful voting mechanism.”

Walsh said Washington Democrats have raised the possibility of working on a constitutional amendment that would reduce or completely eliminate the ballot initiative process that allows voters to have a direct say on policies that affect their lives.

“They’ve lost public support. What they want to do now is try to eliminate the initiative,” Walsh told DCNF. “They don’t understand how anti-democratic and arrogant their position is.”

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