Inslee: 'Our Worst Polluters Will Step Up And Pay'

Governor Jay Inslee has been traveling around the state to unveil portions of his budget proposal. Tuesday morning he stopped in Medina, where workers are completing the Eastside Transit Project atop the 520 floating bridge, to announce his transportation plan.

On the governor’s wish list are safety projects like fixing bridges deemed structurally deficient and projects that will relieve congestion, like the choke point on Interstate 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Altogether, the governor’s transportation budget package will cost more than $12 billion over 12 years. There are existing tolls, fees, and bonds dedicated for transportation. In addition, Inslee is proposing to charge the state’s major polluters.

“So rather than raising a gas tax on anyone, or everyone, our worst polluters will step up and pay instead,” Inslee said. “Big transportation polluters, which include the oil and gas industry, will pay a charge for every ton of pollution they put into the skies of the state of Washington.”

Inslee said the carbon pollution charge would raise more than $4 billion over 12 years. He didn’t elaborate on how those charges would be applied and which industries would be affected. Inslee said he’ll provide more details Wednesday, when he releases his climate change plan.