Vote No on initiatives that seek to undo Washington’s progress | Editorial

Washington Republicans have little power in the Democrat-controlled Legislature, so they’ve turned to ballot initiatives to advance their agenda. They hope that voters will undo laws they couldn’t block themselves.

Four statewide initiatives on the November ballot seek to undo progressive programs. The Tri-City Herald has already recommended that voters reject Initiative 2124, which would effectively kill the state’s long-term care insurance program.

We recommend that voters also say No to the other three initiatives.

I-2066: Repeal and prohibit laws that restrict or discourage use of natural gas

I-2117: Repeal the Climate Commitment Act

These two initiatives are cousins, each targeting a different aspect of Washington’s efforts to combat climate change. They would have the state cling to the dirty energy sources of the past that imperil the future.

Initiative 2066 would prevent the state, localities and utilities from supporting a transition away from natural gas. It mostly targets the Washington Decarbonization Act, which lawmakers passed this year, and would force utilities to continue providing natural gas service long past economic and climate viability. Eventually that would mean other consumers subsidizing increasingly expensive natural gas.

There’s nothing wrong with homes that have natural gas now continuing to use it, but it’s in everyone’s interest to encourage – not compel – homeowners to switch to electric as they replace old appliances over time. Burning natural gas is not as harmful as burning coal or oil, but it still emits unacceptable levels of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Initiative 2117 would prohibit carbon cap-and-trade programs by repealing the 2021 Climate Commitment Act. That CCA directed the state Department of Ecology to create a “cap-and-invest” program statewide. It sets an emissions cap that gets smaller over time. Large emitters buy allowances auctioned by the state. Those allowances will grow more expensive as the supply shrinks. That creates an incentive for companies to invest in technology that will reduce their emissions.

The state uses the money raised under the CCA to fund clean energy programs and projects. The Tri-Cities and businesses located here have received at least $35 million for transit, research, trail improvements and more. If I-2117 passes, that money would disappear.

The CCA likely contributed to higher gas prices at the pump, but not nearly as much as supporters of the initiative would have voters believe. If it passes, there’s no guarantee gas prices would fall.

Cap-and-trade creates a market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time. It’s the state’s best hope of attaining its climate goals before it’s too late.

Voters who believe that climate change is a critical issue for the state and the world should vote No on I-2066 and I-2117.

I-2109: Repeal the capital gains tax on high earners

In 2021, lawmakers approved a tax on capital gains. Capital gains are the profits made from the sale of certain assets, most commonly stocks and other investments that increase in value over time. The tax applies only to gains in excess of $250,000 in a year. Exemptions include real estate, retirement savings accounts, sale of a small business, livestock and some other items.

The first $500 million raised by the tax each year funds K-12 education, higher education, and early learning and childcare programs. Any more money goes into an account that funds construction of school facilities around the state. Tens of millions have come to the Tri-Cities.

Washington’s schools need more money, not less. Repealing the capital gains tax would blow a huge hole in education funding, and proponents of I-2109 have no idea how they’d fill it. In the first five years, the state would lose an estimated $2.2 billion.

Do you have stock gains of more than a quarter million dollars annually outside of a 401k or other retirement account? Probably not. Only 38 households in Benton and Franklin counties are so fortunate. Statewide, there are only a couple of thousand, most of them in King County.

Supporters of repeal say it is an unconstitutional income tax, but the courts have ruled that it is not. It is, instead, a narrowly written tax that asks the wealthiest Washingtonians to pay a little extra for education. We recommend voters keep it by voting No on I-2109.

This story was originally published October 19, 2024 at 5:00 AM.