Washington’s and-trade plan could raise gas prices more than $1 a gallon

By Jeff Rhodes | Freedom Foundation

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday ignored pleas from leaders of both parties and both houses of the Washington State Legislature to deny rumors he intends to impose by executive fiat a and-trade plan that could raise gasoline prices by an estimated $1 to $1.20 a gallon.

“I find that very surprising,” he said when told of the lawmakers’ concerns. “We’ve had dozens of meetings over many months about these things, and not once has anyone come to me and said we have to make a choice between people getting to work every day and failing to deal with the problem of climate change.”

Inslee said he would have more to say on the subject in Tuesday’s State of the State Address but, in the meantime, he steadfastly refused to promise he would not impose costly carbon penalties on oil companies as a way to discourage driving and jumpstart the development of alternative fuels.

at Freedom Foundation.

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