City Council votes to oppose four statewide initiatives

City Council votes to oppose four statewide initiatives

September 27, 2024

On Monday, Sept. 16, the Vancouver City Council accepted public testimony and took collective action to express opposition to four statewide initiatives on the ballot for the Nov. 5 General Election.

Measure No. 2066 concerns regulating energy services, including natural gas and electrification, and if passed, would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use. City Council expressed collective opposition to the measure saying in their resolution that voting against it:

• Protects state laws in alignment with Vancouver's Climate Action Framework
• Preserves first-class cities' home rule authority to pass local laws disincentivizing use of natural gas
• Supports ongoing receipt of state grant funds attributed to switching from natural gas to electric service

Measure No. 2109 concerns taxes, and if passed, would repeal an excise tax imposed on the sale or exchange of certain long-term capital assets by individuals who have annual capital gains of over $250,000. City Council expressed collective opposition to the measure saying in their resolution that voting against it:

• Supports a lawful state tax imposed on non-exempt high-dollar transactions.
• Protects state funds set to be distributed to K-12 schools

Measure No. 2117 concerns carbon tax credit trading, and if passed, would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. City Council expressed collective opposition to the measure saying in their resolution that voting against it:

• Supports the City's ability to receive future Climate Commitment Act funds
• Protects a progressive statewide funding system that attributes financial responsibility for climate change to Washington's largest emitting sources

Measure No. 2124 concerns state long-term care insurance, and if passed, provides employees and self-employed the choice of whether to enroll or opt-out of WA Cares Insurance RCW 50B.04. City Council expressed collective opposition to the measure saying in their resolution that voting against it:

• Protects financial viability, and availability, of the WA Cares Fund which confers a valuable statewide benefit to many individuals who could not otherwise obtain long-term care insurance at affordable rates in the private market

Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Mayor Pro Tem Erik Paulsen abstained from the final vote on Measure 2124, and Councilmember Bart Hansen recused himself from all ballot measure votes citing a conflict of interest.

Consistent with state law, the Vancouver City Council may conduct a public hearing and express a collective position regarding any ballot proposition if community members are given an equal opportunity to express their views. The City Council has now passed Resolutions M-4302, M-4300, M-4299, and M-4298, expressing its collective opposition to the four measures.

Ballots must be deposited into an official ballot drop site by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, or they can be mailed if postmarked no later than Nov. 5. To register to vote or check your registration, visit clark.wa.gov/elections.

Media Contact: Tim Becker, strategic communications manager, [email protected]

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