Group petitions to dump Washington’s
new carbon pricing system
![](images/images_08_08_2023/KXLY%20Pic%20copy.jpg)
The new carbon pricing program went into effect
on Jan. 1, 2023. Washington posted the highest gas prices in the
nation in June and July.
“It’s such a scam. It’s a hidden tax,” said Brian Heywood, head of
Let’s Go Washington, at a Republican candidates festival in Redmond on
July 29.
Heywood says Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic lawmakers downplayed the
potential impact on Washington’s carbon auctions on gas prices. Inslee
and his administration predicted in 2021, when the Legislature passed
the program, that gasoline prices would rise only a few pennies. “He
lied to begin with,” Heywood said.
The first two carbon auctions have raised more than $800 million, some
for fiscal 2024 and some for fiscal 2025. The Legislature allocated
the money for 2024 to 188 projects, including solar panel farms,
climate planning, constructing electric vehicle infrastructure and
other alternative energy projects.
Heywood contends the program was designed to raise gas prices to force
people to switch from gas-powered to electric vehicles.
Inslee spokesman Mike Faulk noted that the petition on Let’s Go
Washington’s website calls for banning cap-and-trade whether the
increased costs are paid by fuel suppliers or people at the pump.
“Sounds like it has more to do with climate denialism than addressing
consumers’ concerns about gas prices,” Faulk said.
Let’s Go Washington has to collect 324,516 valid signatures by Dec. 29
to submit any of the six petitions it is developing to the
Legislature. If the Legislature decides not to act on the petitions
with enough signatures in its 2024 session, they would go on the
election ballot for the November 2024 election. Democrats have
significant majorities in both the Washington House and Senate,
meaning any successful petition would likely receive a chilly
reception.
The five other petitions being pursued by Let’s Go Washington would:
- Call for repealing a new capital gains tax.
- Forbid any state or local income tax.
- Make participation in the state’s new long-term care insurance
program optional.
- Remove some restrictions on police pursuits.
- Allow students to opt out of surveys, assignments and sex education
and enable more parent access to their children’s records and
instructional materials.
Visit crosscut.com/donate to support nonprofit, freely distributed,
local journalism.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
Nathan1@greenplayammonia.com
exactrix@exactrix.com