Washington ranks 47th in road quality, so it’s understandable that some legislators are looking for ways to fill the growing maintenance backlog.
Lewis County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock recently voiced support for redirecting Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds toward roads and bridges, and Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill to make that possible.
Currently, CCA funds can’t be used for traditional transportation projects, but House Bill 1324 would change this so that so-called “excess” funds collected from cap-and-trade auctions are distributed directly to the transportation budget.
From a purely fiscal standpoint, this is defensible. If there’s extra money in one account, and we need money in another, there’s a good argument for making the transfer. But voters decisively rejected repealing the CCA last year because they wanted climate-related action. Redirecting those funds undermines that choice, even if the fiscal logic seems sound.
There are also some bear traps in this plan that could end up costing working families by papering over a broken system that’s already failing rural areas.
Washington’s gas tax model is collapsing as cars become more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles grow in number. Continuing to rely on that system means counties like ours will always be left short, and lawmakers will always be tempted to siphon off other funds to fill the gap.
Here in Lewis County, CCA dollars have funded forest-health projects, agricultural support for local farmers, the Chehalis hydrogen facility that’s creating jobs, and weatherization programs that help families afford to heat their homes.
They’ve also funded salmon habitat restoration in our rivers, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy bill assistance for low-income families.
If lawmakers start treating CCA funds as transportation overflow, rural programs will be first on the chopping block if funding begins to run low, since we don't have lobbyists in Olympia fighting for them. So while we might get a few new sections of paved road or a rebuilt bridge, we’ll lose out on the long-term infrastructure that saves families money and builds local clean-energy jobs. And gas taxes will continue to rise as transportation shortfalls continue.
It also gives the legislature one more knob to turn on fuel costs. When both the transportation budget and the CCA depend on revenue from gas prices, we’d essentially be paying twice for the same roads, and it opens the door for even more backroom shifting of money around the state.
Voters I talk to are looking for more transparency about where their tax dollars go, not less.
An alternative to this proposal exists that would preserve our climate goals, solve our transportation funding backlog, and put money back in the pockets of working families. With a bit of legislative gumption, it’s possible to have our cake and eat it too.
According to 2025 Department of Revenue estimates, a 1% tax on financial assets over $50 million — think high-value stocks and bonds — could raise at least $6 billion per biennium.
Hedge funds that gamble with housing and private equity firms that extract wealth from our communities shouldn't get tax breaks while working families struggle. Making them pay their fair share is supported by up to 70% of Americans in multiple recent polls, and the benefits would be enormous.
That’s the whole plan: one modest tax on extreme wealth that finally funds what’s been chronically underfunded, from transportation and education to healthcare.
Meanwhile, any true “extra” from carbon auctions should go where it’s most deserved: back into the pockets of rural drivers as a gas tax rebate. CCA costs have been passed through to consumers, especially in rural areas. We drive farther, pay more at the pump, and face higher energy bills. The inequity is real and rural families deserve some sort of payback.
Commissioner Pollock and others are right to want a better infrastructure funding model, but changing the law to turn climate dollars into a transportation slush fund is the wrong move. A modest tax on the ultra-wealthy could fix our roads, keep our climate promises, and give working families the relief they deserve.
The alternative is what we’ve already got: more deficits, more potholes, and another gas-tax hike waiting around the corner.
Zac Eckstein is chair of the Lewis County Democratic Party. Learn more about the party at https://lewiscountydemocrats.org.
