Campaign News
Audubon Washington — the statewide chapter of the National Audubon Society — has announced its support for I-732.
“Climate change is a threat to birds and people, and a carbon tax is a proven solution to reduce greenhouse gases,” said Gail Gatton, executive director for Audubon Washington. “Not only will passing I-732 help reduce carbon pollution, but it will encourage clean sources of energy and secure a sustainable and prosperous future for our state. I-732 is the best option available today to protect birds from this threat, and we can’t afford to stand on the sidelines.”
Read “Why We Support I-732,” the Audubon news release, “Cutting Carbon Pollution” and Audubon’s “Take Action” page (where you can show your support for I-732!).
PRESS RELEASE
Washington State revenue-neutral carbon tax initiative attracts growing bipartisan support from leaders who are concerned about the damaging impacts of climate change
SEATTLE, July 12, 2016 – George Shultz (R), Former U.S. Secretary of State & Secretary of the Treasury, and U.S. Representative Jim McDermott (D), have each announced their endorsement of I-732, the country’s first revenue-neutral carbon tax initiative that will go before voters in the November general election. Shultz and McDermott join leaders on both sides of the aisle in their support of this fiscally conservative and socially progressive policy to protect our children and future generations from the negative impacts of climate change. A full list of endorsements can be found at https://yeson732.org/endorsements/.
“As the reality of climate change deepens, the urgency of taking action becomes more and more pressing,” writes Yes On 732 volunteer Alex Lenferna in the Seattle Globalist. “Fortunately, here in Washington, we have an opportunity to bend the arc towards climate stability when Initiative 732 appears on the ballot this November.
“I-732 is simple. It puts a fee on something we don’t want: greenhouse gas pollution. It then returns the revenue to Washingtonians by reducing taxes on families and businesses. It’s a simple tax swap, and the results could be remarkable.”
Maria Matson of Whatcom Watch recently joined Yes On 732 volunteers Rheanna Johnston, Emma Hewitt, Sally Wheldon, and David Jackman for a Saturday morning of talking to voters. Reports Matson: “They canvassed Bellingham to inform residents about I-732, a proposed initiative to regulate carbon emissions that Washington state voters will accept or reject in November. If accepted, it would make Washington one of the few states to have carbon regulations, and the first in the nation to implement a carbon tax.”
PRESS RELEASE
Study by Washington State University finds I-732 will increase the value of output in the agricultural and forestry sectors by 1.76% and 0.11%, respectively
SEATTLE, June 27, 2016 – A Working Paper published by the Washington State University School of Economic Sciences concludes that the tax swap created by I-732 will not only reduce pollution, but will also create a net economic benefit for the agricultural and forestry sectors in Washington State. The report, How Does Washington State Initiative 732 Impact the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors?, is now online at http://ses.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WP2016-8.pdf.
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Association of Washington Business (AWB) is missing an opportunity to help move Washington State toward a more prosperous and sustainable future. Initiative 732 is a policy that is both pro-environment and pro-business. It will help Washington businesses in three important ways
- Business managers currently face a great deal of uncertainty about how the transition to a lower-carbon economy will impact their operations. Adopting I-732 would reduce that uncertainty by setting a predictable price on carbon pollution and satisfying Washington’s obligations under the federal Clean Power Plan.
Print and digital publications around the state have been running letters to the editor from I-732 supporters. Here’s a sample:
“The dominant themes of last weekend’s news (exploding oil trains and 90 degree heat waves) can be expected to return again and again until we finally get serious about our moral obligation to take action on climate change.” — Herb Hethcote, Bainbridge Island (Bainbridge Island Review)
©2016 Carbon Washington. Design by WPC Studios