Backers of the cap-and-tax (i.e. the Climate Commitment Act (CCA)) argue there’s no guarantee gas prices will fall if I-2117 passes and repeals the tax. However, interestingly enough, this claim was recently contradicted by BP, one of the largest donors supporting the tax. As the Washington Policy Center points out, BP’s invoices show that after the cap-and-tax was implemented, they raised prices to reflect the cost of the tax. When CO2 allowance prices dropped, BP lowered their fuel prices accordingly, proving that tax changes directly impact fuel costs.

Despite this, Rachel Smith of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and other supporters maintain that repealing the cap-and-tax won’t reduce gas prices. But, as highlighted by the Washington Policy Center, BP’s actions reveal the truth: if the cap-and-tax is repealed, fuel prices will drop. Supporters of the tax are using misleading tactics to defend a policy that would otherwise be unpopular if voters knew it raised costs – but is anyone really surprised? Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

In a recent debate with GOP candidate Joe Kent, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (running for re-election in the 3^rd congressional district) tried hard to position herself as a bipartisan problem-solver, but her voting record shows otherwise. Despite claiming to break with her party while in Congress, she has consistently voted in line with Democrat leadership, especially on major issues like immigration and government spending. Perez also claimed to prioritize border security, yet she backed a bill that worsened illegal immigration, contradicting her tough talk on the issue.

Instead of offering real solutions, Perez resorted to attacking Joe Kent to distract from her own lack of accomplishments and failure to address key issues facing the district. The race is currently neck-and-neck. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Olympia city officials are considering a proposed minimum wage increase to $20.29 per hour, pushed by local labor unions demanding a Workers’ Bill of Rights. The increase would mark a $4 jump from the current state minimum wage of $16.28 and would make Olympia one of the cities with the highest minimum wage in the nation, following Seattle’s planned rise to $20.76 in 2025. Apparently, the reality that such drastic wage hikes can lead to unintended consequences, like increased unemployment and inflation, hasn’t occurred to backers of the increase. Where large leaps in minimum wage have happened, small businesses struggle to absorb increased labor costs, leading to layoffs or reduced hiring. Further, aggressive wage increases could alienate local businesses and deter new investments. Here’s to hoping city officials consider all implications of raising the minimum wage to one of the highest in the nation. Read more at the Center Square.

The Washington Policy Center (WPC) has released new Citizens’ Guides to the four major initiatives on the Washington state ballot. These guides provide clear, factual analysis of each issue, including the background, potential impacts, and arguments for and against each initiative. The guides cover topics such as repealing the Climate Commitment Act, making WA Cares optional, repealing the state’s capital gains income tax, and laws affecting natural gas use. You can find them all here.

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