No guarantee that I-1631 will reduce carbon emissions

Having read everything available on Initiative 1631, there is no choice but to vote no on this poorly written mess. This initiative allows for 23 exemptions for industry polluters. One has to ask how those companies obtained their exemptions? There are no guarantees for reducing greenhouse gases, the purported purpose of the initiative. The most important negative to this initiative is the fact that it will cost consumers (those least able to afford higher costs) billions.

I-1631 allows for its taxes to automatically increase every year with no end and no ceilings. The state budget office estimates that this well-intentioned nightmare will cost consumers more than $2.3 billion over the first five years. Gas prices alone will increase as much as 14 cents per gallon in the first year with annual increases thereafter.

We consumers will pay more for electricity, heating and natural gas. An appointed board (appointed by whom?) will be allowed to spend our dollars unchecked and without any accountability for reaching its own unspecified environmental goals. There is no requirement to reduce greenhouse gases and no penalty or accountability if their spending is ineffective. If goals are missed, the taxes continue to increase.

We’ve given these bureaucrats far too many blank checks to spend our money! Look into the facts and join me in voting no on I-1631.

Ronald Czarnecki

Everett