About this blog

My name is Bill Hirt and I'm a candidate to be a Representative from the 48th district in the Washington State legislature. My candidacy stems from concern the legislature is not properly overseeing the WSDOT and Sound Transit East Link light rail program. I believe East Link will be a disaster for the entire eastside. ST will spend 5-6 billion on a transportation project that will increase, not decrease cross-lake congestion, violates federal environmental laws, devastates a beautiful part of residential Bellevue, creates havoc in Bellevue's central business district, and does absolutely nothing to alleviate congestion on 1-90 and 405. The only winners with East Link are the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington and their labor unions.

This blog is an attempt to get more public awareness of these concerns. Many of the articles are from 3 years of failed efforts to persuade the Bellevue City Council, King County Council, east side legislators, media, and other organizations to stop this debacle. I have no illusions about being elected. My hope is voters from throughout the east side will read of my candidacy and visit this Web site. If they don't find them persuasive I know at least I tried.

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Seattle Times I-2117 Poll Results

The Sunday Seattle Times front page column “Poll: Initiative to repeal state carbon market loses ground” typifies the result of voters seeing on TV or reading on newspapers misinformation at best or outright lies about I-2117.  That those funding Bill Nye the “Scientist Guy” and similar anti I-2117 claims on TV care more about funding they’ll get from taxes on carbon than the lies their money is funding. 

A previous post detailed what they're reading. That the Seattle Times editorial page writer, Kate Riley “didn’t get it” in last Sunday’ Opinion page. That there’s ample evidence that global warming is the cause of increasing atmospheric CO2 not the result of increasing emissions.  That any benefit to Washington to reducing CO2 emissions (0.117% of total planet) is dwarfed by CO2 on jet stream from China.

Another example, the Seattle Times October 18th front page Climate Lab article “State’s carbon market pumps billions into projects, but what happens if it vanishes” goes beyond mere incompetence. The Climate Lab, purportedly, “an initiative that explores the effects of climate change in the Pacific Northwest and beyond” flat out lies.  

That any benefits from battery powered cars or ferries, electric appliances or heat pumps in homes is more than offset by the "likely" need for additional fossil fueled generators and transmission lost in distributing the energy.

The big lie is the claim CO2 emissions are pollutants. Atmospheric CO2 makes the earth livable temperature wise and fuels the plant life that feeds us and gives us oxygen to live.

The “consequence” of passing I-2177 will be some “commission” will not be allowed to charge CO2 emitters whatever fees they feel are necessary to meet some undefined reduction.  Charges those providing the gas for our cars or the cement for our buildings that will inevitably be passed on to their customers.  

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