Election campaign adds opposing I-2117 in Washington say air pollution in Washington will go up if the measure passes.
I-2117 supporter, Todd Myers, environmental policy director at the Washington Policy Center, tells KVI that state and federal data in Spokane show, “Air quality has improved by 25%. Pollutants have fallen by 25% over the last 20 years in Spokane–it’s a constant improving trend. So, they (I-2117 opponents) just make things up about ‘oh air quality is worsening, and we need this to fight, ya know, pollutants’…even though when the studies from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the EPA show the exact opposite.”
Myers’ statistical data for Spokane stemmed from a claim that air pollution in Spokane was worsening.
Opponents of I-2117 want to maintain a carbon pricing system installed by Gov. Jay Inslee under a law called The Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which imposed a “cap and invest” auction pricing scheme for emitting fossil fuels. It forces companies emitting fossil fuel to pay for a permit to emit carbon. That money goes directly to the state’s general fund and is not dedicated to transportation or road infrastructure projects.
Myers adds, “We do have real environmental problems but we’re putting the money in places that are sort of politically convenient and make people feel good rather than where the problems actually are–where we need the funding. And that is the most frustrating thing to me.” Myers concludes, “and that’s why the state has missed every single one of its climate targets.”
To hear Myers interview with John Carlson about the I-2117 claims, click the play button below.
Washington voters will decide if billions of dollars will continue go to the state treasury in Olympia or stay in their bank accounts with the November 5th general election this year for their decision on four statewide initiatives, including I-2117.
The other initiatives are listed here.
I-2117 will either keep or cancel a carbon pricing system installed by Gov. Jay Inslee under a law called The Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which imposed a “cap and invest” auction pricing scheme for emitting fossil fuels. The “cap and invest” law has already generated about $2 billion for the state general fund in Olympia.
The I-2117 campaign battle has pitted Gov. Inslee supporters who want to keep the law against taxpayer watchdog groups who point out that the CCA is driving up the price of gasoline, diesel and natural gas for home heating and cooking.
The CCA was passed with a promise of reducing carbon emissions, but Myers points out that the state is not actually monitoring for any CO2 reductions, which makes it impossible to know if the ‘cap and invest’ law is delivering what was promised.
Myers tells Carlson, “You mentioned King County. (K.C. Executive) Dow Constantine constantly talks about, you know, his commitment to fighting climate change. King County missed their 2020 CO2 target even with COVID”, he laughed lightly. Myers continued, “(He) Even shut down the economy (per COVID restrictions) and they still missed their own (county) target. But do you hear them say ‘ Well, we screwed up. We gotta find a better way’? Nope they just double down on the same bet.”
Voters will decide the fate of I-2117 on the November 5th, 2024 general election ballot in Washington.
Carlson sums up his feelings about the CCA’s provisions, “This is why people distrust government. There’s no good faith effort to solve problems. And again, it’s all about more money, more power, more (political) control.”
