Let’s Go Washington brings Gas Rollback prices to Vancouver station

The prices before the Gas Rollback event Friday morning at a Vancouver gas station. Photo by Paul Valencia

Gary Bains, owner of the Chevron on the corner of NE Andresen Road and NE 25th Street in Vancouver, changes the prices of gas on the sign. Let’s Go Washington lowered the price to the national average, going from close to $4.20 a gallon to $3.20 a gallon for two hours Friday morning. Photo by Paul Valencia

For two hours Friday morning, supporters of Initiative 2117 brought the price of gas down to the national average, saving customers $1 per gallon on a fill-up

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

A driver of an SUV had to proceed cautiously.

There were so many cars, and space was limited in an effort to maneuver his vehicle toward the street.

It was kind of a traffic jam … at a gas station.

Yet, nobody was frustrated.

Quite the contrary.

“I’ve never seen so many people smiling while pumping their gas,” the driver shouted as he slowly pulled away from the pumps at the Chevron station on the corner of Andresen Road and NE 25th Street in Vancouver.

For two hours Friday morning, the prices for gas were lowered to the national average. In Vancouver, that meant customers were able to purchase gas for $1 a gallon cheaper than they were just a few minutes before 9 a.m.

A volunteer for Let’s Go Washington as he was getting ready for the two-hour Gas Rollback event at a Vancouver gas station. Photo by Paul Valencia

The special event was called the Gas Price Rollback, presented by Let’s Go Washington. The organization is behind Initiative 2117, which would repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act. Let’s Go Washington says that the CCA leads to as much as .50 cents per gallon of an extra tax on Washington drivers.

Joe Kent, the Republican nominee for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, showed up to show his support for the initiative and for the driving public. Other politicians at the event included state Rep. Stephanie McClintock, and Dave Stuebe, former Washougal mayor who is running for state representative. Other politicians were expected to arrive in the final 30 minutes of the event, as well.

“I’m just out here to support the ballot initiatives and, obviously, lower gas prices,” Kent said.

Let’s Go Washington was also promoting its support of Initiatives 2066 — stop the natural gas ban; 2109 — stop the back-door income tax, and 2124 — to give workers a choice.

Joe Kent, the Republican nominee for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, talks to Vancouver’s Kyle Anson at the Let’s Go Washington Gas Rollback Event in Vancouver on Friday. Photo by Paul Valencia

Kent said this was a “great representation of what we’re fighting for,” and he thanked Let’s Go Washington for organizing the event.

“It’s a rollback to a simpler time when people could afford to fill up their gas tanks and put food on the table,” Kent said.

The prices were changed right at 9 a.m. The cost for a gallon of regular was reduced from nearly $4.20 to $3.20.

Hallie Balch, the communications director for Let’s Go Washington (LGW), noted that if the initiative passes, gas prices likely will not drop a full dollar a gallon. But LGW wanted to give a wake-up call to the driving public, to show just how much more money they spend on gas than the national average.

There is no doubt in her mind, though, that gas prices will fall if I-2117 passes.

“We are so confident that when the CCA is repealed in November that prices will immediately drop. We saw an immediate increase when the CCA was adopted,” she said.

The Climate Commitment Act, Balch said, is a carbon tax program that collects a tax from regular people. In the case of gas, it can lead to 40 to 50 cents per gallon. She also said the CCA adds to utility bills.

Balch noted there is no proof that the CCA works, anyway.

“There are no reports at this time that carbon emissions have been reduced due to the CAA,” she said.

“Show us the programs you have created. Show us the carbon emissions that you have reduced due to these taxes,” Balch said. “They have nothing to show for it.”

Kent agreed with that assessment. He was asked where, then, does the money go when it is collected for the CAA at the pumps.

“That’s a fantastic question,” he said, adding that there is no reason to call it the CCA. “It’s a gas tax.”

He added, though, that it is a wasted tax.

“I don’t think they can point to one thing that they’ve actually done to improve the lives of Washingtonians, especially here in this district,” Kent said. “I’m against the tax, but if we’re going to have it, why not invest in local infrastructure? That’s not happening. We don’t know where the money is going. Is it going into Governor Inslee’s slush fund? It’s not benefiting the people.

“At the end of the day, if taxes aren’t benefiting the people, we the people have the right to say we don’t want to pay those taxes anymore.”

One woman finished filling up her tank and noticed Kent. She drove near him, parked her car, and said she just had to get out and shake his hand. She had been running errands and knew she had to fill the tank when she received a text message advertising the event at this station.

Stephanie McClintock, state representative for the 18th Legislative District, said she showed up to support the initiative as well as the citizens who took the time and made the commitment to create this initiative.

“I’m waving signs, talking to people, and I’m really proud to be a voice to my constituents,” she said.

Stephanie McClintock, a Washington state representative, waves as drivers pass by a gas station Friday at a Let’s Go Washington event. Photo by Paul Valencia

Gary Bains, the owner of the Chevron station, said he jumped at the opportunity to host the event. He hopes it leads to real change.

“This needs to be permanently fixed,” Bains said, noting that Washington has some of the highest gas taxes in the country. “Not for only one or two hours. It needs to be fixed permanently.”

There have been close to 20 of these rollback events throughout the state as Let’s Go Washington tries to get the word out to voters come the November election.

Critics of Let’s Go Washington say that events such as Friday’s in Vancouver are tantamount to bribery, of giving people money in exchange for a vote.

That is false, Balch said.

“The truth is we are offering reduced cost on gas to everybody. It doesn’t matter if you are voting with us, or if you hate us,” Balch said. “We’ve had people come by and say, ‘I’m not voting for any of these (initiatives) but I’m taking the cheaper gas.’”

Let’s Go Washington’s response: “Ok. Fine. Go for it.”

“We’re not exchanging it for anything,” Balch said. “They don’t have to take any of our literature.”

Let’s Go Washington just wants to show drivers that costs could go down if the initiative passes.

“Vote Yes, Pay Less” is printed on the shirts of volunteers.

“This is open for everybody, regardless of what they believe,” Balch said.