State House Passes Bill That Would Up Gas Tax $.57 Cents-Or More

The bill now moves onto the State Senate, but the Democratic controlled House passed it.

House Republicans, and five Democrats, voted against HB (house bill) 1110, which would create what are called California style low carbon fuel standard. That means there would be mandated changes or modifications to gas sold in our state. The end result? To pay for those modifications the gas tax would rise anywhere from $.57 to $.63 cents per gallon according to most estimates.

A variety of House Republicans, including Brad Klippert from Tri-Cities, and Jeremy Dufault of Selah vigorously argued against it, especially from an Eastern Washington agricultural and trucking industry/business viewpoint. Dufault said such a tax would hurt low income people, including area farm workers.

However, the bill passed the House by a vote of 52-44.  It now moves onto the Senate for action and debate. Washington state already has the third-highest state gas tax in the U.S. and some of the highest gas prices in the nation.

To see more information on the bill, click on the button below.