Washington State’s Corrupt and Counterproductive Carbon Tax

Washington State residents in November will decide whether to keep a CO2 tax levied under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) of 2021. The tax has increased the cost of home-heating and pushed gas prices up more than 40 cents per gallon last year.

Supporters of the tax, including oil giant BP, argue that it will reduce the state’s CO2 emissions and fund projects that help the state adapt to climate change. Instead, politicians and the state bureaucracy have used the billions they have collected in new tax revenue to fund government programs and reward political allies in the guise of environmental protection. Moreover, the state government is using taxpayer funds to campaign for keeping the CO2 tax, while regulators have banned utilities from showing consumers its costs.

TM

About the Author

Todd Myers

Todd Myers is the vice president for research at the Washington Policy Center.

Washington State residents in November will decide whether to keep a CO2 tax levied under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) of 2021. The tax has increased the cost of home-heating and pushed gas prices up more than 40 cents per gallon last year.

Supporters of the tax, including oil giant BP, argue that it will reduce the state’s CO2 emissions and fund projects that help the state adapt to climate change. Instead, politicians and the state bureaucracy have used the billions they have collected in new tax revenue to fund government programs and reward political allies in the guise of environmental protection. Moreover, the state government is using taxpayer funds to campaign for keeping the CO2 tax, while regulators have banned utilities from showing consumers its costs.