Why is WA always more expensive? Jake challenges DelBene on prices throughout the state

As gas prices surge past $4 nationally, hovering around $5.38 per gallon in the state, Washington Democratic Representative Suzan DelBene, who’s also the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair, is blaming the escalating prices on broken promises made by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

“Families are struggling across the country right now with rising process rising prices across the board, housing, food, health care, child care, energy costs all going up, and gas prices are now another example of that because of actions that we’ve seen taken by the president, particularly because of this reckless war that he has started in Iran,” Delbene said on “The Jake and Spike Show.” “A war that has ended up impacting global gas prices and definitely hits our communities. Gas prices are up $1 a gallon, and you add that on with all the other costs of food, housing, and health care, families are struggling.”

With a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon announced by Trump, KIRO host Jake Skorheim believes gas prices could drop soon, which would be welcome news for many people. But DelBene cited more reasons for high costs beyond the ongoing conflict in Iran.

“Farmers have been hit hard because of tariffs. Tariffs have raised the cost of fertilizer. In fact, there are also components of fertilizer that come through the Strait of Hormuz as well. And we’ve seen fertilizer costs spike because of the tariffs,” DelBene stated. “Margins are slim. So when you raise input costs, when you take away markets, you make it harder and harder for our farmers. And we have an incredible agricultural community here in Western Washington as well, which has been hit really, really hard.”

Why are gas prices lower in neighboring states?

“In Idaho today, gas prices are $4.31 for regular, $4.87 for premium, and diesel is $5.46; that’s like $1.50 less per gallon,” Jake said. “Why is that?”

“Prices are different depending on where you are across the country, but I can tell you that people are hit hard across the country because of rising costs across the board. Housing, food, healthcare, prices have skyrocketed across the board. Tariffs have caused prices to go up.”

But Jake, wanting to know how much the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is affecting in-state prices, cited Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) recently proposed rate increases, which would add roughly $51 per month to a typical residential electric bill by 2029.

“That’s 600 bucks a year for the average family for PSE. And the reason they cited was the extra cost from the CCA,” Jake said. “Washington state usually has about $1 more expensive gallon than Oregon or Idaho.”

“Tariffs have had a huge impact on costs,” DelBene responded. “We’re a trade-dependent state.”

How much is the CCA to blame for high costs in WA?

“Can you talk about the CCA, though?” Jake asked.

“Let’s talk about the investments we can make to address a huge challenge that we face around the globe and definitely in our region, making investments into clean, renewable energy,” DelBene said. “If we want clean, renewable energy, which has been a place where Washington state has differentiated itself, we’ve had a lot of hydro that’s been helpful and has spurred economic growth in the state of Washington. We’ve got to address the challenge that we face. Climate is a challenge. The science is clear.”

“Representative DelBene, it feels like you’re not answering the question. I understand all those conversations, but specifically the CCA, and the reason I’m pushing on it is because that cost crosses everything,” Jake said. ‘Energy, like we just talked about, the pain at the pump, like we just talked about. You know this because you live here. The Department of Ecology is required by law to show us that these investments we’re making are actually having a positive effect, and they are not showing those numbers.

“My question is, if you can’t justify the program because they’re not willing to show us the information that’s actually doing some good, how can you keep asking people who are the poorest among us to pay these very regressive prices when it comes to gas, which you have to use to get to work?” Jake continued.

“Let’s make investments that help lower costs across the board, that make sure we have strong economic opportunity going forward on the federal side,” DelBene answered. “And that’s why, as a federal representative, I want to cover up the policies that we’ve been trying to put in place to help address that, to help build a clean, renewable energy future, to help support the innovation, and to help lower costs.

“Right now, the reason we see such a strong spike and impact on our communities is because we also have such a strong dependence on fossil fuels,” DelBene continued. “Let’s make sure we’re being competitive. We diversify in our region. At the federal level, we’ve made some of those investments. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this administration take them away.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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