It's always gratifying to see citizens take WPC information and analysis and run with it. 

Nearly 420,000 signatures were turned in to the Secretary of State's office on Tuesday in an effort to qualify I-2117, a measure to repeal the state's Cap and Trade tax, a tax on carbon emissions that has added up to an estimated 49.9 cents to the price of a gallon of gas in Washington. The signatures were turned in by the "Let's Go Washington" organization.

Todd Myers, the director for the environment for Washington Policy Center, predicted the dramatic price spikes for gas, diesel and natural gas using the state's own data and well-known formulas to determine price impacts. The governor dismissed the price impact analysis and assured the impact on prices would be "minimal" or "pennies." 

While repealing the Cap and Trade tax has been a standing WPC recommendation since it was made law,. WPC is not involved in the initiative process due to our non-profit status.  However, given the newsworthy development of the signature collection, I thought it would be helpful to WPC readers to provide key background and analysis (see links and video below) we've published on this issue for context. 

I hope it is helpful in sparking lively conversation at your Thanksgiving table on a topic that should unify just about everybody.

Happy Thanksgiving,

David Boze, Communications Director
Washington Policy Center

State's new tax on CO2 emissions projected to add 46 cents per gallon to the cost of gas (July, 2022)

Dept. of Ecology report confirms WPC's cost projections for the new low-carbon fuel law (August, 2022)

Washington's gas prices have jumped 25 cents per gallon since CO2 tax took effect (January, 2023)

Department of Ecology officials should stop illegally imposing the Inslee carbon tax on farmers and food transporters (April, 2023)

It is Ecology's job to fix the ag fuel tax (April, 2023)

Washington farmers fume over fuel surcharge (May 2023)

Cost of Washington’s CO2 tax jumps to 45 cents per gallon (July, 2023)

Governor's latest excuse for increasing gas prices is wrong according to his own source (July, 2023)

Questions and context for the governor's attempt to blame-shift on gas prices today (July, 2023)

Washington’s latest CO2 auction shows residents will continue to pay “outrageously more” than California (August, 2023)

Washington CO2 price jumps again, reaching 50 cents per gallon (September, 2023)

Latest letter from WA Dept. of Ecology once again contradicts previous claims on climate tax (October, 2023)