Congressman Baumgartner Urges Gov. Ferguson to Help Deliver Relief at the Pump

SPOKANE, WA - As global energy markets reel from Iran's disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is working with federal agencies to stabilize fuel supplies and reduce pressure on American energy markets. Today, he called on Washington state leaders to join those efforts by providing immediate relief for families and small businesses through the temporary suspension of the state's cap-and-trade carbon auctions.

Citing the skyrocketing crude oil prices caused by Iran's hostile interference with international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, Congressman Baumgartner called on state leaders to temporarily halt the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which currently adds an estimated 40 to 50 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas.

"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 noted that the high cost of fuel is compounding the cost of all goods and services, disproportionately hurting tradesmen, commuters, and small business owners who cannot afford to absorb Olympia's environmental taxes during 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."

To read Congressman Baumgartner's letter to Governor Ferguson, click here.