SPOKANE, Wash – The Spokane City Council is expected to vote Monday night on a resolution that would oppose Initiative 2117.
The initiative is the most high-profile measure on the ballot in Washington this year.
It would repeal the state’s carbon cap and invest program measure.
Supporters of the initiative say it has created a hidden gas tax and that none of the measures promised by the climate action have to be proven effective.
Opponents of the initiative want the act to stay in place, saying it improves emissions overall in the state and also provides millions of dollars to programs across Washington.
Council members Zack Zappone, Paul Dillon and Kitty Klitzke proposed a resolution that would state the council’s opposition to the initiative.
The resolution says the initiative would put millions of dollars in funding at risk for climate-related programs across the city.
The resolution references funding for the North-South Corridor, Division Street Bus Rapid Transit and Youth Free Ride programs.
A fiscal impact statement on the initiative prepared by the Washington Office of Financial Management details the programs that would be impacted.
Council member Jonathan Bingle opposes the resolution, specifically because of the mention of the North-South Corridor funding.
He talked about the many years of work that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have done to secure that funding for our region. He believes telling people that the funding could be lost if they don’t vote against the initiative feels like extortion.
Bingle says he supports Initiative 2117 overall because of the cost he says has been added at the pump. He said people in his district are already facing challenges due to rising costs and inflation and that this is a measure that could get them some relief.
A note on the resolution says “there is a need to make the Council policy known prior to the election.”
You can read the resolution in Monday’s advance agenda. It begins on page 446.
Initiative 2117 is one of four initiatives on this year’s ballot put forth by the group Let’s Go Washington. The group has raised more than $8 million this campaign season.
The political committee opposing the measure has raised double that and has spent nearly $6 million on tv ads throughout the state.
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