OLYMPIA, Wash., March 26, 2015—The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the voice of Washington state small businesses, today launched a new round of radio and online advertising to educate Washington voters on the potentially harmful effects of proposed new hidden fuel taxes championed by Gov. Jay Inslee and others in the state Legislature.
These hidden costs, in the form of a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), would come on top of proposed gas tax increases which would give Washington the dubious honor of the second highest fuel taxes in the nation. Washington small businesses oppose both the fuel tax increase in the Senate’s transportation bill and new hidden taxes in the governor’s climate plan, given their reliance on affordable energy just to remain in business. The House will hold a hearing on the transportation package, today, March 26.
Past surveys conducted among both small businesses and likely voters in Washington state showed overwhelming concern over the potential increase in fuel costs and the prospect of moving too quickly to adopt such measures. Governor Inslee’s proposed cap and trade scheme, or carbon tax, paired with a low carbon fuel standard he is also proposing, would harm every Washington state family, small business and consumer, pushing up fuel prices while reaping minimal benefits.
“Governor Inslee’s own Administration has said his climate plan could raise fuel prices by over a dollar per gallon,” said Patrick Connor, Washington state Director for the NFIB. “Small businesses, who are disproportionally affected by tax increases, simply can’t afford the governor’s carbon tax and LCFS.”
The ads, which will run throughout Washington state, feature local Washington small-business owner Frank Riordan, president of Becker Trucking in Tukwila. His business, like many small enterprises in Washington, depends on access to affordable energy and is disproportionally hurt by increases in fuel costs. The ads highlight the burden new energy taxes have on families, small businesses, and workers, and call on Washingtonians to contact their state legislators and urge them to oppose the LCFS and any other hidden energy taxes.
In addition, NFIB announced the launch of a new website, www.nonewenergytaxes.org, which provides facts to educate Washingtonians about the true costs of Governor Inslee’s climate agenda and makes it easy for concerned residents to contact their representatives in Olympia and take action.
“We need look no further than California,” said Connor, “which has a similar program in place and brought transportation fuels under the ‘cap’ in January. In December, California consumers and businesses paid just 3 cents more per gallon of gas than Washingtonians; today Californians pay 54 cents more per gallon. The numbers don’t lie, and Washington small businesses, families, and all residents just can’t afford to foot the bill for the governor’s agenda.”
Click here to view the ads, which are also available for viewing on the www.nonewenergytaxes.org website.
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For more than 70 years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America’s economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. NFIB’s educational mission is to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have very different challenges and priorities.
NFIB/Washington
711 Capitol Way South, Suite 505
Olympia, WA 98501
Twitter: @NFIB_WA
