Just in time for the last few weeks of his re-election campaign, Jay Inslee has finished jamming through by executive rulemaking his “carbon rule” that will hurt Washington’s economy for years to come – all while doing virtually nothing to satisfy Inslee’s goal of reversing climate change.
As the Associated Press reports, “Washington state adopted a new rule Thursday to limit greenhouse gas emissions from large carbon polluters … State environmental regulators finalized a rule requiring large industrial emitters to gradually reduce carbon emissions over time. The change will cover power plants, oil refineries, fuel distributors, pulp and paper mills and other industries.”
What is left unsaid by Inslee’s regulators is that Washington State is responsible for a miniscule amount of the world carbon emissions – by Inslee’s own admission, less than one-tenth of one percent – and that about half of our emissions are from the transportation sector, which is not covered (yet) by Inslee’s rulemaking.
So, even though this is a feel-good measure that doesn’t accomplish its stated goal, it will have impact. Again, from the AP: “Businesses and others say the new rule will hurt working families, as costs are passed on to consumers; hamper the state’s ability to attract and retain businesses; and limit the ability of energy-intensive businesses to compete globally.”
Inslee’s regulatory overreach was driven by his anger at being unable to previously convince Democrats – and Republicans – in the legislature to support cap-and-trade scheme he proposed to raise a billion dollars in new taxes. So, he drafted – and re-drafted – a rule that is destined to fail, in part because Inslee can’t get fellow Democrat governors, like Jerry Brown in California, to cooperate with Washington’s heavy-handed approach.
The money at stake is not insignificant. “An updated state economic analysis indicates the costs for all businesses to comply over 20 years range from a low of $410 million to a high of $6.9 billion, depending on the way they comply.”
That’s the potential outcome, all so Jay Inslee can say he is the “greenest governor in America”.
And that’s a pretty big price to pay for Washingtonians who will suffer under the carbon rule, while other states take advantage of the economic damage inflicted on us by Inslee.
Pat says
I love it, the Inslee Tax. Way to go governor, continuing on to be irrelevant!!!
tensor says
So, have Bill Bryant’s polling numbers changed since August, or does Inslee still have the double-digit lead he’d maintained since April?
Way to go governor, continuing on to be irrelevant!!!
Which word does not mean what you think it means: “governor,” “irrelevant,” or both?
Rosnet says
Just more bla bla bla , are you ever going to say something intelligent? Just the same old pee wee Herman. Maybe a short list of things you have done for the people of WA, beside find and support ways to take people’s money and spend it on your own special interest. Please don’t try your same old shit and turn this back on me with “well what have you done” , we don’t have time, and your the know it all with all the bla, bla, bla. Go to one of your ultra lib sites and spout your shit there.
tensor says
So, I take it Governor Inslee is still cruising to an easy re-election, which will keep our Governor’s office firmly out of Republican hands for yet another four years?
…turn this back on me with “well what have you done”…
Of course not. I would never expect you to have ever done anything of value, or ever to demonstrate the slightest ability to take the even tiniest bit of the same criticism you eagerly give to others.
Bill Fleming says
Why waist your time with this troll?