Follow the I-1631 money

Voters, follow the money: Big Oil has spilled over 21 million dollars into the anti-Initiative 1631 campaign. With the 2017 Tax Act Exxon Mobil’s effective tax rate fell from 3.7 percent to -85.6 percent! We taxpayers just refunded $382 million to California Chevron.

Oil companies cry crocodile tears over taxes but they’ve done worse than nothing to combat global warming or pay taxes. Initiative 1631 is a carbon fee, not tax, that generates investment in clean energy infrastructure (70 percent), targeting low-income folks and vulnerable communities. 25 percent goes for clean water and healthy forests. You don’t see the oil giants fight our fires, protect our waters, or defend our future.

Consider who wrote Initiative 1631: faith, tribal, labor, minority, environmental, science, and medical folks. Initiative 1631 is supported by Washington chapters of the AMA, American Academy of Pediatricians, Academy of Family Physicians, the American Lung Association, Nature Conservancy, The League of Women Voters, hundreds of scientists, and Bill Gates! Parents! Grandparents!

Remember our smoke, winds, drought, heat, reduced stream flows. Not just weird. Now predictable. Remember our children, whom we want to grow up. Healthy. Initiative 1631 funds a future. Vote yes for 1631!

Carol Ellis

Spokane