Congressman Michael Baumgartner of Washington’s 5th District called on Mar. 9 for state leaders to provide immediate relief at the gas pump by suspending Washington’s cap-and-trade carbon auctions. Baumgartner, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made his request as global energy markets face turmoil due to Iran’s disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The congressman said that suspending the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is necessary because it adds an estimated 40 to 50 cents per gallon to fuel costs at a time when crude oil prices are already spiking. He argued that this surcharge places additional financial strain on families and small businesses across Washington.
“Washingtonians are not just paying the price for Iran’s rogue behavior; they are paying a heavy premium driven by state policy,” said Congressman Baumgartner. “This climate change surcharge is little more than a vanity project designed to make people in downtown Seattle feel good about themselves, while severely penalizing working people across the rest of the state.”
Baumgartner also noted that higher fuel costs increase expenses for goods and services throughout Washington, disproportionately affecting tradesmen, commuters, and small business owners who struggle with environmental taxes during what he described as a global energy shock.
“Subsidizing charging stations for Tesla’s needs to take a back seat to lowering the cost of living for everyday Washingtonians,” Baumgartner wrote. “Olympia must stop draining hundreds of millions of dollars from the pockets of working citizens every month during an international economic emergency.”
Baumgartner has sent a letter outlining his concerns and proposals directly to Governor Ferguson.