Gov. Inslee Plans to Push Environmental Agenda Despite Election Defeats

The millions of dollars pumped into Washington state Senate races by CA environmentalist Tom Steyer didn't keep Democrats from getting beaten in key Senate races, but Gov. Inslee still plans to push for carbon taxes, and low-carbon fuel standards.

GOP leaders in the strong Senate Coalition (24 GOP and 2 Democratic legislators) said the election results showed our state isn't "for sale or rent" to outside interests, as it was put by Senator Mark Schoesler of Ritzville.  However, despite a number of crushing defeats - including the GOP picking up some unexpected House seats - Gov. Inslee preferred to call it a "status-quo" election, rather than a voter mandate.

Inslee still plans, according to the Seattle Times, to push for some sort of cap-and-trade or carbon tax (pollution tax on business)  The Times said Thursday:

Inslee stressed that he’s not yet wedded to any proposal, but floated the possibility of “a grand bargain,” such as a cap-and-trade plan that would charge carbon polluters and direct some of the money to schools.   Whatever Inslee proposes, Tuesday’s election results mean the governor’s agenda will face a more Republican Legislature in 2015."

Given that Inslee will be facing even more GOP legislators in 2015,  it seems to reason he will find even more opposition to a pollution tax in already struggling industries, and resistance to low-carbon fuel standards that even his own bean counters say could raise prices over $1.00 a gallon.

If that's the case, then his only recourse would be to act by Executive Order.   That would mean a Washington state version of what we've already seen in the White House.    Inslee would be bypassing the legislature to further his agenda - probably something he learned from his "mentor",  President Obama.