Campaign News
PRESS RELEASE
Republican Senator Steve Litzow Endorses Initiative 732
Recognizing the urgent need for effective and fiscally responsible climate policy, Sen. Litzow (R) urges Washington voters to say Yes on I-732 in November
SEATTLE, June 17, 2016 – Republican Senator Steve Litzow, a long-time resident of Mercer Island serving the 41st District since 2010, today announced his endorsement of Initiative 732, demonstrating growing bipartisan support for the policy. Sen. Litzow joins former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Finkbeiner and a number of Democratic legislators who have already endorsed I-732, including Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, chair of the House Environment Committee. They are part of growing community of leading climate scientists, business leaders, economists, public officials, and social and environmental leaders supporting I-732. A full list of endorsements can be found at https://yeson732.org/endorsements/.
Hello Carbon Tax Friends,
We are excited to share with you the pro statement that will appear in the Washington State voter pamphlet this year. This language is final but we’re happy to hear what you have to say. Just let us know if the comments below.
Hello Carbon Tax Friends,
We have always sought to be honest and forthright with you as we fight our way toward climate action in 2016. Nothing is changing that now.
For years there have been those who seek to oppose action on climate and there continue to be those opposed to climate action today. So there is a statement in opposition to I-732 and you can read it a the linked pdf below.
This language is final and will be in the voter pamphlet this year but we’d still love to hear your opinions. Just let us know what you think in the comments below.
Let’s WIN!
Hello, carbon tax friends: Please forgive this extra email blast, but I couldn’t help it: the news this weekend will be dominated by exploding oil trains and heat waves and that combination makes for a fabulous opportunity to write a Letter to the Editor… so will you take 15 minutes to help spread the message that we have a moral obligation to act on climate change and that you’re going to vote Yes on I-732?
MEDIA STATEMENT
Response to the State of Washington Department of Ecology Revised Clean Air Rule
June 3, 2016
We have a moral obligation to protect our children and future generations, leaving them a world that’s cleaner, healthier and safer. While we support all efforts aimed at reducing harmful greenhouse-gas emissions, the Clean Air Rule still does not go far enough. Initiative 732 can operate side by side with the Clean Air Rule to help the state achieve more meaningful reductions in carbon emissions while making our tax code more fair, protecting low- and middle-income families, and enabling our state to prosper in a low-carbon future.
Occupy.com just posted a story about “6 ballot initiatives to watch in 2016.” Author Matt Stannard calls I-732 “absolutely the most important initiative in the country.”
From the story: “At the top of the list is the first and only carbon tax and rebate initiative in the United States, an idea championed by a variety of advocates across a wide ideological spectrum. Over a two-year period, Initiative 732 would institute a $25 per metric ton of CO2 consumed in the state. The proposal also reduces state sales taxes across the board by 1 percent; this makes sense because sales taxes are regressive for no socially defensible reason, while the carbon tax at least has a purpose. Even better, the proposal provides up to $1,500 per year in the form of a tax rebate to 400,000 of the lowest-income Washingtonians – the people most likely to fear a post-carbon transition for legitimate economic reasons.”
Let’s be real for a minute. We keep hearing from politically connected folks within the liberal community that they can’t actively support I-732 because the polling isn’t good enough, or that our scrappy new organization isn’t big and strong enough to get it done. We’ve got two messages for the fence sitters and opponents that want to see climate action but are afraid of making the leap with I-732.
MEDIA STATEMENT
Carbon Washington, the sponsor of carbon tax Initiative 732, unequivocally supports King County Superior Court Judge Hollis Hill’s ruling that the threat of climate change is so urgent that the state must be placed on a court-ordered deadline to hold polluters accountable now. We also applaud the eight youth plaintiffs whose brave and convincing testimony led to this historic ruling.
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