September 2015

Hello carbon tax friends: With the fall equinox behind us, inspiration comes from Thomas Paine: “These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Perhaps a bit over the top for our situation—especially since the fall forecast is for warm, dry weather—but it’s a good reminder that we’re in crunch time, that we need to avoid distractions and focus on getting the signatures we need to get on the ballot, and that “we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” (Yeah!!) Read on for details on our end-of-September push and for some important open letters, but first let’s take a deep breath… more

Hello carbon tax friends: Executive Committee member Joe Ryan likes to say that we’re so close to getting the signatures we need that he can smell it. I prefer to say that we’re so close that I can feel it… see below for my explanation, plus a great read on how CarbonWA advances social justice and details on our events this coming week in eastern Washington. And after you finish all that please help us get across the finish line in the next two months: check the signature-gathering calendars (in particular here’s Seattle RSVP and Bellevue RSVP forms), share our signature-gathering job postings with students and others who need a bit of cash, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, volunteer to make phone calls from your home or help out around the campaign office or do data entry from home, help with your local chapter, etc. We’re so close I can feel it!

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by Ramez Naam, CarbonWA Executive Committee Member.

Carbon Washington’s I-732 is a revenue-neutral carbon tax that:

1. Puts a price on carbon pollution, an approach proven to work in reducing carbon emissions.
2. Reduces regressive sales taxes on everyone.
3. Sends up to $1500 a year to low-income working families.
4. By fighting climate change, helps the most vulnerable people in the world.

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Hello carbon tax friends: We’re at 191,000 signatures (!) and making big strides through the first half of September… great work everyone! And whatever you think about football, it’s a terrific opportunity for signature gathering (e.g., Huskies’ opening game Saturday morning) so let’s push on to 200,000 and beyond! Please check the signature-gathering calendars (in particular here’s Seattle RSVP and Bellevue RSVP forms), reach out to friends and family and neighbors, tell folks about our job posting (including our CarbonWA scholarship for high school or college students you know who are looking for a bit of cash), connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, volunteer to make phone calls or help with data entry from your home or help out around the campaign office or help with your local chapter, etc. more

Hello carbon tax friends: Before you do anything else go read this terrific article in the Yakima Herald: “Proposal would shift the tax burden on state carbon emissions”. And if that’s not enough good news then read on for our August totals and our plans for September. The rains are coming, but hopefully not yet, so let’s get signatures while the getting is good! That’s especially true for Labor Day weekend coming up, so please check the signature-gathering calendars (in particular here’s Seattle RSVP and Bellevue RSVP forms), reach out to friends and family and neighbors, tell folks about our job posting (including our CarbonWA scholarship for high school or college students you know who are looking for a bit of cash), connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, volunteer to make phone calls from your home or help out around the campaign office or help with your local chapter, etc. more