Local representatives oppose carbon tax initiative

A proposal by Carbon Washington, a group aiming to bring a carbon tax to the state, is headed to the November ballot, and Ninth District legislators, all Republicans, say they do not support the initiative.

Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, and Reps. Mary Dye of Pomeroy and Joe Schmick of Colfax, all said the proposed measure, Initiative 732, leads to winners and losers.

"I think it's a very poorly drafted initiative," Schoesler said. "You create winners, which means you have to create losers."

The measure is meant to impose a carbon emission tax on fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated elect...