Measure to repeal Washington's cap-and-trade system fails
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Washington voters rejected a ballot measure that would have repealed the state's cap-and-trade law, leaving intact a central part of the state's strategy to fight climate change, the Associated Press reported.
Why it matters: The law, called the Climate Commitment Act, puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions and also requires some of the state's biggest polluters to reduce their carbon footprint over time.
Zoom in: Initiative 2117, which would have repealed the antipollution law, was being rejected by more than 60% of Washington voters on Tuesday.
Zoom out: Washington voters also rejected Initiative 2109, which would repeal the state's tax on capital gains.
- That tax, which applies to profits from selling assets such as stocks and bonds, raises money to pay for child care and other education programs.
A third ballot measure, Initiative 2124, also failed. It would make participation in the state's long-term care program optional.
- Opponents of the initiative said it would bankrupt the long-term care program, which helps people pay for services they may need as they age.
The only statewide ballot measure that was ahead on Tuesday night was Initiative 2066, which deals with natural gas.
- The measure, which was being approved with 51.2% of the vote in Tuesday's first batch of returns, would block state and local policies that discourage the use of natural gas in homes and buildings.
- Among other things, it would force a rollback of Washington's new building code rules that promote the use of electric heat pumps over natural gas heating systems.
The big picture: All four initiatives were backed by a committee called Let's Go Washington and had significant support from conservatives.
- State Rep. Jim Walsh, the chair of the state Republican Party, was the citizen sponsor of three of the measures — I-2124, I-2109 and I-2117.
What we're watching: Although the natural gas initiative remained too close to call late Tuesday, its opponents and backers each expressed optimism their side would prevail in the end.
- More results will be released in the coming days as additional ballots are counted in the vote-by-mail election.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional results.