Step one of any twelve-step program is "admit you have a problem." Left-wing environmental groups like FUSE still aren't there. As a result, Washington state has wasted millions on failed climate policies and some seem determined to keep doing that.

Case in point. Over at the Kitsap Sun's "Kitsap Caucus" blog, Steven Gardner addresses a question about the Governor's climate bill and the role the Washington Policy Center played in influencing that legislation. Specifically, the question is whether elements of ALEC model legislation we helped craft called "The Environmental Priorities Act" were included in the bill.

The Governor's office says "That bill actually had nothing to do with ALEC." In reality, the Governor's bill includes a concept we suggested earlier this year, specifically mentioning the ALEC legislation.

At the center of the Environmental Priorities Act is the desire to prioritize environmental policies that yield the greatest bang for the buck. The Governor's bill does the same thing, ranking the effectiveness of climate strategies by "the cost per ton of emission reduction." That is a big reason we supported his bill.

While the Governor's office may not have known the Environmental Priorities Act was ALEC legislation, what difference does it make? Indeed, he should be pleasantly surprised that ALEC agrees with him on this issue. As I told the Kitsap Caucus blog:

Perhaps, however, it is merely a happy coincidence that the exact same metric and approach suggested by ALEC was used by the Governor in his bill. This would mean that Gov. Inslee and ALEC independently came up with the same idea. You would think that such a thing would be celebrated as a bi-partisan agreement on climate policy.

If climate change is as important as the Governor seems to believe, he should welcome all supporters. Surely someone in his office should point out that having new friends on the issue is a good thing and not a problem.

Another comment on the Kitsap Caucus provides an additional indication that some on the left see climate change as a political game rather than a problem to be addressed.

The left-wing activist group FUSE attacks another ALEC bill known as The Climate Accountability Act. The bill argues taxpayers should receive the carbon emissions reductions they pay for, requiring companies contracted by the state to reduce carbon emissions through energy efficiency or other projects include the promised level of reductions in the contract. If those goals are not met, the contractor has to either refund a portion of the contract or find another way to reduce the promised amount of carbon emissions.

What does FUSE find wrong with receiving the CO2 reductions promised by a contractor? They don't say. It doesn't seem to matter. ALEC likes it so it must be bad. Is it any wonder Washington state has wasted so much money on failed climate policies? Left-wing environmental groups like the Washington Conservation Voters and FUSE judge policies by their politics, not effectiveness.

As the Governor's climate group makes critical decisions over the next two months, it will be instructive to see whether the environmental community demands effective policies and accountability or whether they continue to put politics ahead of the environment. If FUSE and others have their way, we will follow a well worn, but failed, path.