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Category Archives: Environment
How will climate change bills impact jobs, families?
The risks in this legislation are just too great right now. As legislators who will be asked to support House Bill 1819, we need more information from state agencies on the number of businesses that would be impacted under the cap and tax system the bill creates. We also need to know what so-called "green jobs" the bill would purport to create would be and where. Most important, we need all the facts and figures on what costs consumers would face because of the taxes the bill authorizes.
State needs to be creative to keep Kopachuck open
Closing our state budget gap is going to take innovative ideas and lots of input from people all over the state. Local residents who support Kopachuck State Park have taken that first step by forming a group called “Preserve our Park.” They have provided several ideas to save Kopachuck, including organizing volunteer work parties, limiting park hours in the winter and providing other means for revenue, such as an annual pass, fundraisers, increased camp and park fees, and an implementation of various efficiencies to save money.
'Cap and trade' plan too costly
The cap and trade legislation is an idea put forth by the Western Climate Initiative, which currently includes seven Western states and four Canadian Provinces. The idea is to cap the amount of carbon emitted from businesses producing over a certain amount.
Companies will have to purchase "allowances" from the government for the right to emit greenhouse gasses. If companies don't have enough allowances to cover their emissions, they will have to pay a fine up to $10,000 per day or try to purchase unused emission credits from other companies.
While this doesn't sound too menacing so far, a closer look reveals questions and uncertainty that are job-killers for our businesses that compete on a global scale.
Three or four tax referendum ideas floating in Legislature
The 0.3-cent sales tax increase to pay for health-care programs cut in the House-Senate budget agreed to Wednesday evening. Voters could weigh in Nov. 3. The still-to-be-identified tax increase to pay for a $1 billion to $3 billion public works program that modernizes public schools, universities and state buildings and gives them energy upgrades. Voters could weigh in Nov. 3. A 25-cent tax for enhanced 9-1-1 emergency services. Voters could weigh in Aug. 18 in an all-mail primary ballot.
Also posted in Finance, Healthcare, Taxes Comments closed
New state budget includes job cuts, tuition increases
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and speculation, the state Senate on Monday proposed a two-year plan to bridge Washington’s $9 billion budget shortfall. As predicted, it includes some dramatic cuts.
Also posted in Budget, Economy, Education, Finance, Healthcare, Higher Education, Taxes, Unemployment Comments closed