Posted on 12/31/2023 1:32:12 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
A former economist for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has accused state officials of reprisals after he refused to lie about the financial impacts of the state’s new cap-and-trade program. Scott Smith has filed a whistleblower complaint claiming he was retaliated against by the State for not fudging the true cost of the cap-and-trade scheme on gas prices as Governor Jay Inslee was publicly accusing the fossil fuel industry of lying about the cost of the program.
Smith has worked for WSDOT for the past five years, forecasting fuel consumption, pricing, and revenues from gas taxes and fees. The 64-year-old has been a public-service economist for 35 years, and claims his career was ruined when he predicted that the impact of cap-and-trade would be an increase of 45-50 cents per gallon of gas purchased.
“I tried to do the right thing, and they eliminated my job,” Smith said. “I didn’t want to quit. I’m an economist. That’s the way I think. I’ve been damaged. I’m 64 years old. I’ve got nowhere to go. They left me no other choice.”
Cap-and-trade is a provision of the state’s Climate Commitment Act, which was passed in 2021. State leaders assured the citizens of the state that it would have little effect on gasoline prices.
“I don’t think it’s going to be noticeable,” Joel Creswell of the state’s Department of Ecology said.
“All in all, over time, we don’t think we’re going to see a big impact on prices at the pump, on customer prices,” said Luke Martland, implementation manager for the Ecology Department.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewamerican.com ...
The Democrats run Washington state where reality is malleable.
I have to disagree with Mr. Scott Smith about something.
It’s actually 3rd grade math that informs us on this subject.
When PR meets the reality of Physics, Physics wins, and the Physics drives the economics.
“...Physics wins...”
It[Physics]’s not just a Good Idea, it’s The Law [and applied equally to all].
Cap and trade! That’s so 15 years ago. I’m sure I haven’t heard the term in 5 years. Usually libs latch on to a new shiny concept, and jettison the old without comment. Somewhat similarly, I’m a little distressed (/s) at having heard next to nothing about Kwanzaa this year
The Washington state government is your typical commiecrat libtard operation lead by that despicable moron jaydolph inslseaze.
You’re lucky then. Our local CBS affiliate ran several segments on the fake Kwanza religion and even had a half hour show to “celebrate” it. WKMG in Orlando. They were a Christian based affiliate decades ago.
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