carbon tax

Last week, senators in Olympia held their first hearing on a proposed transportation package.  Minority leader senator Mark Schoesler says the current proposal will not be good for Washington’s farming community.   “A $15 a ton carbon tax, which would be about 15 cents a gallon for fuel, with no roads included.  Increased sales tax...

Washington state lawmakers will gather in Olympia January 14th, and like most terms, this upcoming legislative session will have several key topics the Ag community will be following very closely.  Minority leader, Senator Mark Schoesler, said many in Olympia say they hold agriculture in high regard.  Bu...

This November, voters in Washington will be asked to support a carbon tax, though I-1631.  If passed the tax would increase gas tax by 15 cents to start, up to 40 cents in the next decade.  Supporters say the initiative would raise $500 million to help environmental groups address climate and other issues.  However...

While the idea of a carbon tax failed during the 2018 legislative session in Olympia, that doesn’t mean the idea is gone for the entire year.  Several environmental groups have pushed to have a carbon tax go before voters this November.  What suc...

It turned out O.K., but there were a lot of bad risks.   That’s the assessment of the 2018 Washington legislative session from state Senator minority leader Mark Schoesler.   He acknowledged while a Hirst Fix was passed, several other bad pieces of legislation tried to progress, including legislation that would have addressed pesticide applicators, and the Governor’s Carbon Tax.  The Ritzville Rep

The Carbon Tax idea may have died during the 2018 legislative session in Olympia, but supporters have already announced efforts to get such a tax on the November ballot before Washington voters.  Representative Vincent Buys has been an outspoken opponent of a Carbon Tax since day one.  Th...

After a carbon tax bill stalled in the Washington Legislature, a coalition of environmental, community and labor groups on Friday filed a proposed citizens' initiative that would put a price on carbon emissions.  Saying voters, communities and businesses want strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, initiative sponsors want to ask voters in November to charge large emitters such as power

Efforts to pass a carbon tax in Washington have failed for the time being.  Governor Jay Inslee as well as the prime sponsor of the legislation announced Thursday there were not enough votes to pass the measure out of the state Senate.  Washington was looking to become the first state to impose a straight tax on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. But I...

Governor Jay Inslee has proposed a carbon tax for the state of Washington.  Under his plan, carbon emissions would be taxed at $20 per ton starting next year.  After that, the tax rate would move higher by 3.5%, plus inflation annually.  The gov...

During last week’s State of the state, Governor Jay Inslee rolled out his latest proposed carbon tax.  Under his plan, carbon emissions would be taxed at $20 per ton starting next year.  After that, the tax rate would move higher by 3.5%, plus inflat...