We reported yesterday on a group of oil refinery workers who came to Olympia to talk with lawmakers about House Bill 3181, a proposal to raise the state's Model Toxics Control Act tax.
Today, we offer a brief video featuring a few of the workers.
Backers of the tax plan say it would create jobs and raise money to clean up stormwater. But the jobs it would create are temporary, and the jobs it threatens to kill are permanent, family-wage jobs.
"While AWB members recognize the importance of improving water quality in Puget Sound, adding $100 million in new taxes on Washington businesses and citizens at a time when our economy is still trying to recover is a very poor idea," said Grant Nelson, AWB's lead on the issue. "In addition to increasing the cost of fuel at the pump, HB 3181 will lead to lost jobs and jeopardize future efforts to fund much-needed transportation projects."
