Advocating for common sense on the ballot

The new year is here, which means the Washington State 2024 Legislative Session has just begun. On January 8th, our state legislature began consideration of a multitude of new bills, which could impact just about every aspect of our lives. It’s imperative we pay attention, because over the past year, the enactment of various pieces of legislation has underscored a severe disconnect between the people of Washington state and some of our state representatives. Now, our state legislators have an opportunity to right those wrongs and vote in favor of common-sense ballot initiatives, but if they do not, it will be up to Washingtonians to reverse the curse.

Families across the nation are facing a cost-of-living crisis, and one of the ways Central Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze is when they get to the fuel pump and must grapple with the fact that Washington has one of the highest gas prices in the nation. I have heard from numerous constituents that they are crossing the border to Oregon just to fill up their tank. This is unacceptable. Despite Governor Inslee’s assurances that the new cap-and-trade carbon tax program would cost pennies, families are shelling out an additional 50 cents per gallon. It should come as no surprise that when you levy a high tax on corporations, that additional cost will be passed onto consumers — and that is exactly what happened.

Initiative No. 2117 aims to stop the hidden gas tax and restore common sense to the marketplace. This measure would prohibit any type of carbon tax trading, regardless of whether the higher costs are imposed on fuel recipients or suppliers, including the cap-and-trade tax, which has proven to drastically increase the cost of living for folks here in Washington. When people are already struggling to make ends meet due to high prices, passing on extra costs is simply out of touch.

But it is not just fiscal common sense that is on the ballot—it is also common sense regarding public safety. Last year, a state trooper near Ellensburg spotted a driver speeding 111 miles per hour down Interstate 90. When the trooper tried to stop the car, the driver paid no attention and sped off. Due to the current laws on the books, the officer was forced to let the suspect go. Tragically, about an hour later, the driver collided with a car near Sunnyside and killed two elementary-aged children inside. There is no way to replace the lives that were so needlessly lost, but we can chart a path forward that relies on common sense, where officers are able to pursue suspects committing crimes.

Initiative No. 2113 takes a stand against this public safety crisis. Under current law, officers are only allowed to engage in vehicular pursuit against suspects who have engaged in a violent offense, sexual offense, domestic violence-related offense, driving under the influence, or resisting arrest. This stringent criteria has meant that our officers are undertaking fewer pursuits, emboldening criminals who are aware they’re less likely to be apprehended. Initiative No. 2113 seeks to eliminate these restrictive conditions, allowing law enforcement to pursue criminals more freely, reinstating the rule of law and the deterrent effect of consequences.

As a Member of Congress, I understand how important it is to steer away from reckless policies that send shockwaves through our economy and communities. Our state legislators must do the same. Unfortunately, this past year, there have been numerous out-of-touch policies signed into law by legislators who care more about bending to the will of extreme activist groups rather than listening to the hardworking Washingtonians who will be directly affected. Legislators must chart a more sensible course, embracing a future guided by common sense rather than catering to special interests. And if they won’t? Your votes are a surefire way to circumvent them and overturn their misguided decisions, therefore restoring sanity back to the state of Washington.