A Poll Shows That 18% of Washington Voters Are Still Not Sure About the Carbon Market Repeal Proposal
WASHINGTON, USA — A study done with the help of KING 5, the Seattle Times, and the Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington found that 18% of Washington voters are still not sure if they want to get rid of the state’s carbon market program. In the Survey USA study, 48% of people said they planned to vote “yes” on Initiative 2117, while 34% said they planned to vote “no.” Both people who support and people who oppose I-2117 said that voters who haven’t chosen yet are important to think about.
The Climate Commitment Act set up a scheme called “cap-and-invest,” which limited emissions and made polluters buy “allowances.” The money will then be used for projects that help the earth and the climate. The program would end thanks to I-2117, which was put together by “Let’s Go Washington” and backed by Brian Heywood.
Yeah, Heywood says that drivers paid more for the benefits, and he doesn’t agree with how the money is being spent.
“Is this good for the environment, or is this hurting me at the gas tank?” Heywood spoke up. “The truth, I think, is — it’s a money grab that’s wrapped up like it’s gonna do something for the environment, but none of the programs they tout really do anything for the environment.”
The No on 2117 coalition was made up of a lot of different groups that all wanted to stop the repeal. These groups included environmental groups and big companies. They don’t agree that this is really about the price of gas.
Head of Communications for No on 2117 Mark Prentice said, “If they wanted to lower gas prices, they would have written an initiative to get rid of the gas tax.” “The only guarantee we have with 2117 is that it’s going to remove protections for clean water, clean air, our forests and our farmland.”
People who are against a repeal point out that the poll didn’t include a question about how a repeal would affect the economy as a whole.