I 735 and I 732

There are two important initiatives out there right now that you should know about.  Many of you have signed one or both, but I will try to explain them for those that need more information.

The more straightforward one is I 735, which is intended to overturn the Supreme Court “Citizen’s United” decision.  In that decision, the plaintiff’s argued that corporations could not be limited in the amount of money they spent in elections because the first amendment guarantees the right of free speech to people, and that corporations, in this case, had the same rights as people.  In affirming this decision, the judges said in effect that money was the same as free speech and that corporations were people.  In order to reverse this decision, we will have to pass an amendment to the US Constitution that specifies the opposite.  The ballot title states the following:
“Initiative measure 735 concerns a proposed amendment to the federal constitution.  This measure would urge the Washington State congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations, and constitutionally-protected free speech excludes the spending of money.”

Sixteen states have passed this resolution.  A little civics lesson:  In order to pass an amendment to the federal constitution, it must be passed by congress and ratified by the legislatures of ¾ (38) of the states.  If you think that big moneyed interests are flooding our elections with money, you should sign this initiative.  

You may have signed the similar I 1329 last year, which didn’t get enough signatures to make the ballot.  You must sign this one also.   As an initiative to the legislature, the deadline for signature gathering is after Dec 1, so we will have a lot more time to get the signatures.

The other initiative is I 732.  The ballot title states as follows:
“This measure would impose a carbon emission tax on certain fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity, at $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide in 2017, and increasing gradually to $100 per metric ton (2016 dollars adjusted for inflation), with more gradual phase-in for some users.  It would reduce the sates tax rate by one percentage point over two years, increase a low-income sales tax exemption, and reduce certain manufacturing taxes.”

The purpose of this law would be to transfer some of the states tax burden onto the burning of fossil fuels, which increase the carbon dioxide load in the atmosphere.  Carbon dioxide, as you probably know, is the main pollutant that is causing our atmosphere to warm and to change our climate.  In order to do our part, we need to incentivize a reduction of our use of fossil fuels and speed the transition to carbon free energy sources.   The easiest and most effective way to do that is to increase the cost of using carbon fuels.  It is important to understand that this measure is revenue neutral, that is, it does not increase the tax burden on the citizens of Washington.  Every dollar collected for carbon use is taken off another existing tax.  

You can expect to pay 25 cents more per gallon for gasoline at the pump and a quarter of of a cent more per kilowatt-hour for energy produced from fossil fuels.  That means also that you will pay 1% less in sales tax, the poorest 400,000 working families would get up to a $1500 rebate of sales tax, and the B&O tax will be eliminated altogether.  To calculate exactly how this tax will affect your family, go to:  carbon.cs.washington.edu.juhki

Duncan Clausen, co-director of the Carbon Tax Initiative campaign, gave a presentation to a fossil fuel industry group in Washington State.  As you would expect, he did not receive an enthusiastic response.  However, they did say that if they were going to have to submit to some form of carbon regulation, they would rather see the carbon tax than a cap and trade program because the tax would give them a reliable predictor of costs that would make planning for the future far easier.

I hope I’ve given you reason to back these initiatives.  If not, please read up on them and make a knowledgeable decision.  We are the ones that will make these changes happen; the powers that be will not do it on their own.  Your signature will put these issues before the state legislature for consideration.  If they don’t feel confidant to act on them, they will be on the ballot in 2016.   You are not signing anything into law, only giving us all a chance to consider it.

Comments?  terry@vashonloop.com