WASHINGTON, USA — Less than one month before voters in Washington decide on an initiative to repeal the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), the architect of the 2022 legislation squared off in a debate with the hedge fund founder trying to take the law off the books.
Former state Sen. Reuven Carlyle is vehemently against Issue 2117, sponsored by Brian Heywood.
The initiative would also prohibit state agencies from enacting cap and trade or cap and tax programs, which essentially allows the state to charge the biggest polluters for their emissions.
The two sat beside each other for Seattle University's ongoing "Conversations" program.
The core of Heywood's message is that the CCA, and cap and trade, is costing Washingtonians too much, particularly at the gas pump.
"If 2117 passes, the price of gas, relative to other states, will go down. We're putting a 25 to 50 cent tax on it," he said. "I can guarantee if we get rid of this flawed grifting program, the cost of gas will go down."
Heywood has suggested in the past, including in videos produced by his group, Let's Go Washington, that the legislation he's hoping to repeal includes hidden taxes that drive up gas prices.
"The price of gasoline is about a penny per gallon, per dollar [for each] carbon credit," he said on Thursday. "The carbon credits in this state have traded for between about $26 per ton, to $50-60 per ton at the top. Our [gas] prices have correlated at that."
Carlyle refuted Heywood's claim.
"There's not one provision that actually lowers gas prices at all, in any way," he said of the initiative.
The cap and trade or tax programs have helped fund various state projects.
Carlyle pointed to the $5.4 billion in wildfire prevention, new ferries and transportation programs that help provide free access to public transit for kids and teens.
But, at its core, the former senator says the environment remains the primary objective behind the current legislation.
"It's the single most effective climate policy in the world. It works, the data is overwhelming," he said.
Heywood claims the more than 450,000 signatures collected for Issue 2117 are the most in state history for any ballot measure, a sign he said that there's momentum for the cause.
He insisted he's not against climate initiatives and agreed that humans play a role in climate, but failed to provide any alternatives to potentially replace the CCA.
Following the debate, he told KING 5 that his focus is on fixing a broken system, but he said several times that he was open to further discussions on eventual solutions.
Heywood's group, Let's Go Washington, has been fined for alleged campaign violations.
Voting yes on Issue 2117 is a vote to repeal the CCA, while a "no" vote is a vote to keep it on the books.