If Initiative-1631 passes, decisions for how to spend Washington “carbon fee” funds would be made by an unelected board. The carbon tax is expected to raise $1 billion annually by 2023, rising from there. One idea for spending the money: Subsidies for purchasing electric vehicles. Initiative sponsors are mistakenly certain that, because they called it a “fee” and not a “tax,” legislators could not shift the money to other purposes – we hadn’t heard I-1631 was also a constitutional amendment. (Seattle Times)

For decades Washington governors, without controversy, have signed certificates acknowledging the top 20 in marksmanship competitions, but Gov. Jay Inslee no longer will because it’s tangentially connected to the NRA. Dori Monson says organizers “only register these competitions with the NRA so the shooters can get classifications if they set national records and so that the NRA can set a common set of standards for each state’s competition.” But leave it to Jay Inslee to create a little controversy for the sake of attention. (My Northwest)

To support its vision of what transit should be, the state Dept. of Transportation is creating policies to restrain technology advancements such as autonomous vehicles. Mariya Frost with the Washington Policy Center wrote, “If you are an individual commuter and were hoping the new technology would provide you with a more bearable commute, WSDOT wants you to think again.” (Washington Policy Center)

With the Seattle streetcar project, which would connect the South Lake Union to the First Hill line, now on hold because of a $100 million overrun, some are now arguing it’s not just a transportation project, but one with social justice implications. President of Pike Brewing Company Charles Finkel wrote in a recent Seattle Times article that the project would serve “an equitable access to opportunity and services” for low-income people. Expect to see this in more failed and overbudget Seattle projects: They must be completed, some will argue, for “social justice.” (My Northwest)

Don’t bother submitting Boaty McBoatface Elementary: The Pasco School District is accepting nominations for naming its two newest elementary schools. The schools are scheduled to open in 2019 and 2020. The naming committee will meet on Sept. 27. (Tri-City Herald)

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