According to the New York Times, "British Columbia’s economy did not collapse. The Working Families Tax Exemption Program would be funded. She added:[44], Court Olson, a Sierra Club member, wanted the group to survey its members. What a carbon tax can do is help us adapt. The Sightline Institute contended the measure would decrease revenue $78 million or 0.37 percent per year.[7]. Because the plan would recycle the revenue it raised, none would be left over for “investments” that activists favor. It can raise much-needed resources for clean energy research and development and transit; it can help us invest in communities that will be the hardest hit by climate impacts. These communities will need investments and jobs to make an equitable transition to a forward-thinking clean-energy economy. ... I-732 has not been compromised by special interests... it would reduce the sales tax 15 percent — from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent — and funds a Working Families Tax Credit for low-income families. Recent analyses show that the proposal would cost the state over $914 million over four years in lost revenue. 's carbon tax. Opponents of the measure have cited the OFM's analysis as one of their central criticisms of the initiative. It makes Washington’s taxes fairer as it makes our state cleaner. In 2009, 47 percent opposed the tax. If certified, initiatives are sent to the Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate for consideration. Initiative 732 Initiative 732 was filed in 2015 as an initiative to the Legislature. The WFTC is based on calendar years, not fiscal years. This chapter is not intended ... 2 Washington; or acquired from the Bonneville power administration. Aug. 1, 2017, 11:27 AM ET, 2,855,638 votes, …. That exemption would allow low-income taxpayers (those who qualify for the federal earned income tax credit) to receive a refund for some of the state sales taxes they paid during the year. The money raised would be used to fund tax cuts and tax rebates throughout the state. Initiative Measure No. On July 1, 2017, the state sales tax rate would be reduced from 6.5 percent to 6.0 percent. [2][3] In 2011, Washington ranked 28th in carbon emissions nationwide. The state would adopt rules needed to implement the measure. Initiative Measure No. We feel strongly that we had to do this. Our reason, above all, is that we want to support our allies in people-of-color-led climate justice groups that represent those on the frontlines of climate change. Superior Courts | The chart below shows cash donations and expenditures current as of January 12, 2017. Immigration | If the movement cannot accept economically sound policy that would help solve the fundamental problem, there is something deeply wrong with the movement. View other Washington election results on our full Washington results page. [28], The No on 732 campaign coalition included:[30]. (1,760 of 2,000 precincts). State legislature | The initiative contains an increase in the Working Families Tax Exemption for low-income communities and a cut to the regressive sales tax, but environmental justice communities have already rejected that idea as insufficient. In August 2016, Elway Poll released data showing 34 percent of respondents in support of and 37 percent opposed to Initiative 732. What's on my ballot? I-732 will make Washington’s budget mess worse. There are clearly things to like about Initiative 732, the carbon tax on the ballot in Washington. The tax would have been phased in more slowly for farmers and nonprofit transportation providers. Climate extremes are becoming more intense: heat waves, droughts and fires on one hand, and more extreme rainfall, floods and storms on the other. [4], As of March 2016, Washington was one of the 45 states that did not mandate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at the state level. It only refers to “electricity consumed” within the state. ... As atmosphere, ocean, and earth scientists we are deeply concerned about the consequences of man-made climate change. The state business and occupation tax is imposed on the gross income of business activities conducted in Washington. [8], Ansel Herz, Sydney Brownstone, Ana Sofia Knauf, and Heidi Groover, four Election Control Board members of paper The Stranger, criticized Initiative 732, despite the paper's publisher endorsing of the initiative. Ballot access for parties | It uses revenues from a carbon pollution fee to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and invests in infrastructure for clean, abundant water and healthy forests that can stand up to the adverse impacts of climate change, while simultaneously assisting the most vulnerable workers and communities during our transition away from fossil fuels. [3] Implemented in 2008, British Columbia's carbon tax helped the province reduce its per capita greenhouse gas emissions 12.9 between 2008 to 2013, according to the Carbon Tax Center. For a summary of in-kind donations, click here. By throwing money at imaginary sensible Republicans and Boeing, I-732 adapts us for nothing. Initiative 732 would have established a tax on carbon emissionsat $15 per metric ton of emissions in July 2017, $25 in July 2018, and then 3.5 percent plus inflation each year until the tax reaches $100 per metric ton. I-732 would define "year" as "the twelve-month period commencing January 1st and ending December 31st ..." Existing code that is part of the initiative states that a "tax year" is "either the calendar year, or the taxpayer's fiscal year when permission is obtained from the department of revenue to use a fiscal year in lieu of the calendar year." Given the urgency of the climate crisis, this was not a decision reached lightly. While no one policy can do everything, we believe Initiative I-732 has significant flaws which combined would make it harder to achieve the goals of effectively and equitably tackling climate change and rapidly transitioning to clean energy: Climate scientists and economists have long said that one of the best ways to fight climate change is to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions and raise that price over time, which would encourage the switch to cleaner energy sources, like solar and wind. Washington would have been the first state to place a tax on carbon emissions. [74][75] Carbon Washington issued a response. To the extent that the people who modeled it predicted this, I’m not sure that those of us on the policy end of it really believed it." The activists want micromanagement. The Washington Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Teachers Initiative, also known as Initiative Measure 732, was on the November 7, 2000 election ballot as an Initiative to the People in Washington, where it was approved. 2,855,638 votes, 88% reporting (1,760 of 2,000 precincts) Voters rejected Initiative 732 — Create Carbon Emission Tax — in Washington on Tuesday. Olson was disappointed with the group's response, saying, "They essentially told me that they had been over and over this issue in many meetings, and they were not about to change." The state did, however, have a goal of reducing emissions to specific levels by a particular year since 2008, when the state legislature passed statutory emissions limits in order to reduce Washington's overall greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020, 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035, and 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. 735 concerns a proposed amendment to the federal constitution. Below are detailed results for the initiative. The other four for which signatures were not submitted were Initiative Measure Nos. 1 (3) The proceeds of the carbon pollution tax are not intended to 2 be used for highway purposes and must be deposited into the state 3 general fund pursuant to RCW 82.32.380. Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Lauren Dixon • Kelly Rindfleisch • Sara Antel • Sara Horton, Washington elections in 2021 | Public pensions | Energy prices would rise, but the measure would induce investments in clean energy, giving Washington a head start in technology competition. The province's environmental minister, Mary Polak, said, "It performed better on all fronts than I think any of us expected. Washington State’s Initiative 732: Impact on Electricity Prices Should be Small. And no, it doesn’t do everything. The sales tax is imposed on retail sales of most articles of personal property, digital products, and some services. All new model year 2010 and subsequent model year cars, light trucks, and medium-duty vehicles in the state were required to have a label from the manufacturer detailing that the vehicle meets greenhouse gas emissions standards. According to Carbon Washington, the group behind Initiative 732, the carbon tax is not intended to be an overall tax increase, but rather a shift of the tax burden. Their stance is short-sighted, for two reasons. Source: Election results from The Associated Press. No, [I-732] is not perfect. Should this measure be enacted into law? I-732 doesn’t do any of this. The institute deferred to the OFM's model. Dirty fossil fuels pollute our air and water, threaten our forests, harm our kids, and damage our climate. At a time when we are struggling to maintain good jobs and fund basic services, I-732 would send Washington in the wrong direction. The reality is that since 2010, B.C. The opposition campaign had spent $1,388,097.38. Most of all, we hope that the divisiveness that has marked this fight subsides. [8], Even if voters reject this particular initiative, the idea of putting a price on carbon is still one of the most straightforward, economy-friendly ways to deal with climate change.[8]. In November 2016, Washington State voters were presented with a ballot initiative (Initiative 732) advancing the first carbon tax on production and use of fossil fuels in the United States. Lee also criticized how the carbon tax mostly decreased corporate income taxes to remain revenue-neutral. Washington families and kids deserve a safe environment with clean air and water and healthy forests. I-732 fights climate change by making big polluters pay. Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Their argument was as follows:[9]. Campaign finance requirements, Who represents me? For a summary of in-kind donations, click here. Environment | Enthusiastic grassroots climate activists across the state gathered more than 300,000 signatures to get I-732 on the ballot. The measure also requires reports to the Governor and Legislature on how the measure is affecting state revenues. Together, these states accounted for 0.32 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions, 0.54 percent of the nation's sulfur dioxide emissions, and 0.55 percent of the nation's nitrogen dioxide emissions from power plants in 2012. Of these 206 counties, five are located in Washington, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.[81]. It would apply when fossil fuels are burned in Washington. While many interrelated social and environmental needs demand our attention, complex problems are best solved one step at a time. ... No on 732 Sponsored by the Association of Washington Business, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Energy policy is a major issue in Washington. It contributed $450,000 in cash donations. Initiative 732 would be revenue-negative, meaning the measure would cost the state revenue and force the state to cut back on essential services. 1-732 is a simple step in the right direction. [28], The following ballot question committee registered to support this initiative as of January 12, 2017. Jock A. Finlayson, head of policy at the Business Council of British Columbia, stated, "We were not very happy when it was first announced... [Now,] within the business community there is a sizable constituency saying this is O.K." Global fossil-fuel emissions and global warming are increasing. Advisory Votes . California's will fall due to policies. Initiative 732 was a bipartisan approach that would help build consensus and address the threat of climate change. [56], As of January 12, 2017, the opposition campaign for Initiative 732 featured two ballot question committees, Association of Washington Business and Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, that received a total of $1,418,005.71 in contributions. I-732 makes this situation worse. These groups, as represented by Front & Centered, are strongly opposed to this particular ballot measure. …, It is precisely because a revenue-neutral carbon tax isn't weighed down by so many ancillary social goals that it stands the best chance of appealing to people across the political spectrum.[8]. All unspecified power becoming specified by 2018 is unlikely. | CMQ/OE, President, Impact BioEnergy, Howard Behar, former President of Starbucks North America, Yoram Bernet, Co-Founder and CEO, Scope 5, Jesse Berst, Chairman, Smart Cities Council, Julie Blazek, AIA, LEED AP, Partner, HKP Architects, Patrick Callahan, CEO, Urban Renaissance Group LLC, Tad Everhart, Owner, Tad Everhart Energy Advisor LLC and President, CertiPHIers Cooperative, Burt Hamner, Founder & President, HydroBee, Eric Hull, Co-Founder & General Manager, Banner Power Solutions, Guy Knoblich, Co-Founder & General Manager, Banner Power Solutions, Srirup Kumar, President & Co-founder, Community Supported Biocycling, Bill Lemon, investment banker and adjunct professor of finance at Pinchot University, Evan Leonard, Vice President, Artisan Electric, Carla Reich, Owner, Honey Crumb Cake Studio, Jigar Shah, Co-Founder and President of Generate Capital, Inc., Founder and former CEO of SunEdison, Edward W. Sheets, President of Ed Sheets Consulting, Rahul Shendure, Co-founder and CEO, Oscilla Power, Michael J. Smith Jr., Business Development Advisor at Impact Bioenergy, Deborah Todd, CSBA, LEEDap, Owner, Building Design Services. As the Working Families Tax Credit is distributed at anytime during the calendar year, the institute estimated its cost in increments across the months. ★ Initiative 732: Add an external link to your content for free. The rule was withdrawn because a large number of companies had requested exemptions, and there were questions about how precisely the system would work. [4], Initiative 732 would have established a tax on carbon emissions at $15 per metric ton of emissions in July 2017, $25 in July 2018, and then 3.5 percent plus inflation each year until the tax reaches $100 per metric ton. Limiting global temperature rise and its associated consequences will require international action to control emissions. [4], Washington had higher carbon dioxide emissions from power plants than Alaska, but fewer emissions than Oregon. 14 House Bill 2768. In Washington State in 2015, two different initiative campaigns are gathering signatures for initiatives to the legislature in 2016. To me, it’s everything. It is time to recognize that we are getting rather close to that brick wall.