Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
New gas tax and new carbon tax coming soon
COLFAX — New gas tax, mental health hotline, regional health districts, shifting litter control funds, and a carbon tax were disused by the Whitman County commissioners.
The commissioners took in the latest report from its lobbyist for the state legislature, Zak Kennedy on Monday morning.
“We just finished signing documents and we’re ready for some bright and sunny news from Olympia,” said Chairman Art Swannack.
“Can I call you back next year?” Kennedy said.
His report began and Kennedy talked about a proposed new gas tax, suggesting it could lead to $4-$5 per gallon gas prices.
“Nobody’s really a fan of the gas tax, unless they have all electric cars,” he said.
Then it was the subject of “988,” an effort to make a general call-in number for mental health, similar to 911.
“If it’s a life-threatening emergency, you would still call 911. You’re adding another layer. Another step when literally seconds could matter,” said Kennedy.
A question came about House Bill 1152, which would create regional health districts.
“They have watered that down a bit,” Kennedy said. “But they’re still messing around with your local board of health.”
Then House Bill 5040, about re-directing litter control dollars to be dispersed by the Department of Transportation instead of county road departments.
“It’s a dumb idea, in my opinion,” said Swannack. “Most of the trash is on rural roads.”
“This is not a knock against legislators, but many of them have never been out of the city,” said Kennedy. “They’re looking through a tiny little window at the whole state.”
The lobbyist for various Eastern Washington counties and port districts then talked about the party in charge overall as Friday’s deadline approaches for bills to pass out of policy committees.
“For the Democrats, the rubber’s meeting the road ... they’re split right down the middle in their caucus,” Kennedy said.
The legislative session is set to end April 27 with the speaker wanting to stick to that.
“If that is the case, they’re running out of time,” Kennedy said, before adding that he has heard talk of a possible added session for budget considerations, including new stimulus money coming to the state from the federal American Rescue Plan.
Kennedy and commissioners then talked about the Blake decision. It’s– a state Supreme Court decision that nullified a felony drug possession law because it failed to require prosecutors to prove someone intentionally or knowingly possessed drugs.
Then they spoke about carbon initiatives.
“I hate low carbon fuel standards,” said Mark Storey, Whitman County Public Works director. “It doesn’t do anything for the environment, contrary to popular opinion.”
“The education component of this is very hard,” Kennedy said in agreement.
Swannack asked him if there may be a type of “grand bargain” with the two parties in Olympia on a package of cap and trade, social justice and other issues.
“That’s probably what we’re looking at,” said Kennedy.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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