In his ongoing attempt to garner public support for his bureaucratic carbon regulations, Jay Inslee put his name on an op-ed in the Seattle Times today filled with unsubstantiated and exaggerated claims. Essentially, Inslee repeated the claims he made in a recent blast email he sent to supporters. Inslee’s baseless assertions include:
- “Climate deniers”—a not so subtle jab at Republicans—are denying science.
- These same “climate deniers” are halting progress in combating climate change.
- He is leading a movement in Washington State and across our nation.
Inslee’s op-ed is littered with ridiculous assertions linking everything from the wildfires to salmon “dying in hot water” to climate change. Ironically, he wraps up by warning readers not to “fall victim to the fear mongers” attempting to block “every clean-air and clean-water law since Earth Day 1970.”
Of course, not all those who oppose Inslee are “fear-mongers.” It’s Inslee—insisting on politicizing the tragedy of wildfires for the sake of his extreme “green” agenda—who is acting the part of “fear-monger.”
As Shift has pointed out time and time again, Washington State emits approximately 1/10 of 1% of the world’s carbon emissions. And, between 2007 and 2011, our state managed to reduce carbon emissions by 9.75 percent—largely the result of a dramatic increase in hydroelectric power, certainly not the result of new regulations.
As Shift has pointed out time and time again, Washington State emits approximately 1/10 of 1% of the world’s carbon emissions. And, between 2007 and 2011, our state managed to reduce carbon emissions by 9.75 percent—largely the result of a dramatic increase in hydroelectric power, certainly not the result of new regulations.
Washington’s low contribution to emissions levels means new regulatory rules would do nothing to lower global emission levels. Inslee’s regulations would produce results that are virtually meaningless to air pollution reduction or human health.
Simply put, Inslee is not telling the truth. Republicans do not oppose Inslee’s extreme “green” policies because they are so-called deniers. Rather, they oppose Inslee’s agenda because it is based on big government principles. Worse, these “green” policies—by even the most generous projections—will make little impact on carbon emission levels. What these policies will do, however, is harm economic growth and fill the pockets of special interests who give Inslee money.
Moreover, it’s not Republicans who have kept Inslee’s extreme “green policies” from moving forward. Democrats, not Republicans, blocked his cap-and-tax scheme in the state Legislature this year. Inslee could not even garner enough support among members of his own party to pass the scheme out of the Democrat-controlled state House. That’s the inconvenient truth Inslee prefers to ignore.
Finally, Inslee is boldly claiming that he is leading a movement in our state and country. Yet, as previously stated, he failed to even lead his fellow Democrat lawmakers during the 2015 legislative session. Simply put, Inslee is not a leader. He is a failure.
Inslee is talking a good game in his attempt to appeal to the public. It’s a good game, but it’s also a false one.
Mr Fish says
Will someone please tell me how the 1/10 of 1% of the world’s carbon emissions was actually measured?
Mr. Fish says
Has anyone asked Gov. Inslee “How much has our carbon footprint been reduced in the past 20 years? We now have countless number of windmills generating electricity, we have fuel efficient cars along with electric cars, we have shut down numerous paper mills, the emissions from the refineries has been significantly reduced, our electric generating plant in Centralia is closed, and the list goes on. Perhaps this carbon tax is more about new money or Gov. Inslee’s legacy.
Don Charles Steinke says
We currently produce 90 million tons of CO2 per year in Washington State, which per capita is more than the Chinese. The Chinese just announced a Cap and Trade plan for 2017. We need to do as much as we can. This is not a partisan issue. What policies do you recommend?
Mr Fish says
I stated a number of specific items that we have accomplished with a reduction of carbon emissions. How did you measure the 90 million tons of CO2 emissions? Perhaps some quantity of these emissions came from natural causes such as forest fires. How do you separate man made emissions from natural emissions?
Kerri Hubler says
Governor Inslee is one of the worst Governors in Washington State history. He has not produced anything that is truly good for our state and has done nothing but push his own agenda’s and policies. He is trying to push our State even further into being a liberal disaster!!! We do not need more taxes, we need our government to stop spending so DAMN much money on stupid extra committees and things that are not needed!!! Inslee is an IDIOT!!