Editor,

Soon we will all be voting in November on ballot measures, some good, some bad. One of the most odious is overly ambitious Initiative 1631, the Carbon Fee (tax) Initiative.

This very regressive fee…er, tax, previously rejected by voters in 2016 (I-732), is stated to be effective January 2020 and will add, immediately, 15 cents per gallon to our already high state gas tax of 44.5 cents per gallon, with annual increases that, over time, will add at least 35 cents per gallon and certain to go much higher.

This tax, proposed as a “fee” on carbon emissions, would be placed on heating fuel, natural gas and electricity, in addition to gasoline. These fees are a blank check for the state whenever it needs more money. And, that means higher and higher gasoline and utility prices. What we have here is another costly tax with negative consequences. Any business coming under the carbon tax, (many large, polluting companies, are exempted in I-1631), and paying the fee will just increase their product prices that will be passed on to the consumer, you and me. An unelected board of political appointees, not answerable to taxpayers, would be in charge of spending the billions collected with no requirement this money be spent specifically to clean water or reduce greenhouse gases or carbon emissions.

The state is continuously looking for new money for pet programs and those voting for I-1631 will think they are acting for clean air and water, a “feel-good” righteous thing when in reality they will be voting for possibly some good programs but in reality, more bike trails, mass transit and other pet programs and, when the air and water aren’t any cleaner, the tax will be upped and upped, or another new tax created for “feel-good” voters to agree to.

Let’s face reality. The governor wants Washington to be the first state to establish a U.S. carbon tax. The state wastes a lot of our tax money, constantly needs more, and waste is in evidence in just about everything they have their fingers into. Don’t give them more to waste on something that will have absolutely no effect on water and air except to make us pay more, especially the low income people who use heating oil, electricity and drive. I care about clean air and water very much, but I-1631 will not accomplish that. Vote NO on I-1631. It is a costly and poorly written energy plan that families and taxpayers can not afford.

Ed Hickey

Oak Harbor