Jay Inslee is telling reporters that he is willing to “compromise” now that Republicans have taken an outright majority in the State Senate, and reduced the Democrats’ advantage in the State House. However, his rhetoric doesn’t quite mask his actions so far.
As Shift reported, as late as election night, the green governor was continuing to mock Republicans for not accepting his apocalyptic view of global warming. Additionally, throughout the election, Inslee sent multiple emails personally attacking individual Republican Senators who he now has to negotiate with about legislation.
At least Inslee is now confirming that he will submit his pie-in-the-sky anti-carbon agenda to the Legislature for consideration. Crosscut identifies Inslee’s combined low carbon fuels mandate and cap-and-trade approach as one of his three priorities for the legislative session, along with education funding and transportation: “Inslee plans to push his climate change policies — low-carbon fuels, plus either a cap-and-trade system or carbon emissions taxes.”
It appears that Inslee has backed away from his earlier position that he would push his carbon fuels mandate through Executive Order, rather than put it up for a vote. Perhaps this is his first compromise toward actually working with – instead of attacking – the new Legislature?
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