In spite of Governor Inslee’s attempt to pass a carbon cap-and-trade bill to limit carbon pollution and help fund our underfunded education system, it has become clear that no significant carbon-reduction legislation will be passed in this session of the Legislature, where even the Democratic-controlled State House will not put cap-and-trade on the floor.
Once again, then, the people must speak from the grassroots and take the reigns of leadership when the legislature won’t. We are lucky to have an enlightened and energetic group of activists at the state level who have filed the CarbonWA initiative for a state carbon tax, similar to the highly-successful carbon tax in British Columbia. (See below, and also our Links page for more details.)
Olympic Climate Action has endorsed the CarbonWA campaign, and the signature drive has begun. We will have petitions available at our next meeting, April 12 from 3-5 pm at the Elwha Heritage Center.
OCA has also endorsed the WAmend initiative campaign for a constitutional amendment stating that corporations aren’t people and money isn’t speech, to limit the power of wealthy individuals and corporations to buy elections. We are hoping you will go out collecting signatures on both petitions.
How lucky we are to live in a democracy where the people can take the Initiative–literally–into our own hands.
A Revenue-Neutral Carbon Tax Ballot Measure Campaign for Washington State
After many days of labor by our legal team and others, we are delighted to announce the birth of Initiative to the Legislature #732!
Ballot language
Our official ballot title (the 30-word summary that will appear on the ballot) is: Initiative Measure No. 732 concerns taxes. This measure would impose a carbon emission tax on certain fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity, reduce the sales tax by one percentage point and increase a low-income exemption, and reduce certain manufacturing taxes. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ].
For more details see the plain language and annotated legal language on our website, or read the whole measure yourself.
Petitions-by-mail
If you want some petitions so that you can begin collecting signatures, please email duncan@carbonwa.org with your address and phone number and he’ll work on getting you some.
- Other upcoming events here.
CarbonWA
3656 Francis Ave N #B
Seattle WA 98103 United States
Olympic Climate Action 