Put gas money back in pocket

On Tuesday, Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick, and I introduced House Bill 2040, also known as the Carbon Auction Rebate program.

The bill seeks to provide rebates to Washington motorists suffering from our state’s high gas prices.

This past summer, for the first time, Washington surpassed California for the highest gasoline price in the nation. With the summer travel season behind us, our gasoline prices have fallen, but they are still much higher than our surrounding states.

The average price for gasoline in Washington, according to AAA, is $4.145 for regular, as opposed to the national average of $3.122. That means, compared to the national average, our fuel prices are more than a dollar higher per gallon.

Idaho motorists are paying $3.216 and prices in Oregon are $3.810.

Gov. Inslee blames oil companies for the higher prices. But we have some of the highest gas prices because of the state’s Climate Commitment Act, the cap-and-trade program that took effect Jan. 1, 2023.

These higher prices equate to about $500 for the average Washington family per year. This year’s carbon auctions under the cap-and-trade program have netted Washington more than $1.3 billion — three times more than originally projected.

That’s money you and I and our families are paying out to the state in the form of higher costs for gasoline, groceries and other necessities. Rep. Connors and I feel it’s time to give some of that money back.

Under our bill, Washington’s 6.8 million registered vehicle owners would receive a $180 rebate check — or up to $360 per two-car family in July 2024.

The Carbon Auction Rebate would not affect the Climate Commitment Act. The same regulated entities would face the same emissions cap, and carbon credit auctions would not change.

It would not disrupt investments already made by the Legislature in previous sessions using CCA revenue.

It simply puts money back in the pockets of Washington motorists and families who have borne the high cost of fuel as the result of the governor’s cap-and-trade program.

In addition, I am working on a variety of bills. Here are some of my priorities for the 2024 session:

• We must make the agriculture fuel exemption from cap-and-trade effective. This is a measure, , I co-sponsored this critically important bill (House Bill 1780) last year with Rep. Joe Schmick (of Colfax). We will continue to push it for its passage this session.

• Improve Puget Sound water quality (House Bill 1365) and create salmon-safe communities (House Bill 1381). These proposals would be more effective toward preserving and protecting our salmon than the misguided approach of removing vital Snake River dams.

• Sen. Mark Schoesler (of Ritzville) and I were instrumental in securing state funding in the Senate and House Capital Budget committees to replace groundwater in the Odessa Subaquifer with delivery systems that connect water supplies to east Columbia Basin farms. In total, nearly $73 million in federal and state dollars were secured in the past year for this project. We will continue working to build on this success as it is vital for irrigation and drinking water supplies in nearly a dozen Columbia Basin communities.

• I will continue to seek passage of House Bill 1270 that would create a new Washington State Commission on Boys and Men tasked to address the well-being of boys, male youth and men across the state.

Stay engaged and in touch!

As a wheat farmer in the Palouse, I know how hard the people of the 9th District work to pay the bills, raise their families and enjoy life in our corner of the world. Government should not make these tasks more difficult. I’m working for lower taxes, to keep government off our backs, and to foster a better Washington for us and our families. However, I need your help and your input.

As the 2024 legislative session gets underway on Jan. 8, please be sure to stay engaged and keep in touch with my office.

—Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, represents the 9th Legislative District which includes Eastern Adams County. Email her at [email protected].