Gas clash: Who’s accused of being a ‘pompus turd’ in I-2066 legal threat
Nov 7, 2024, 2:08 PM | Updated: 2:10 pm
Natural gas burns on a kitchen stove in the U.S. in 2023. (Photo: Wayne Parry, AP)
(Photo: Wayne Parry, AP)
Initiative backer Brian Heywood accused Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson of playing a “disingenuous game” with voters after Inslee hinted on Wednesday at taking Initiative I-2066 to court if it passes.
I-2066 aims to protect natural gas as an energy source. Inslee, a climate-conscious governor, argued that the waste it creates pollutes the air, and he expressed interest in phasing it out.
“It’s not really fair to voters because it did not adequately describe what it really was,” Inslee said during a post-election press briefing on Wednesday, explaining why the state might challenge the initiative in court. “I think there’s a very good chance the court will find it was defective by violating the single-subject rule and, therefore, won’t actually be going into effect,” Inslee added.
Brian Heywood responded by calling Inslee “arrogant” and a “pompous turd” during “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio.
“Bob Ferguson wrote the initial language; we don’t have any say in what the language is on the ballot title,” Heywood said. “We estimate we lost 10 percent of the vote because it was confusing.”
The attorney general is responsible for the title and description of any statewide ballot measure. Heywood claims Attorney General Bob Ferguson had a conflict of interest because, while campaigning for governor, Ferguson said he opposed all four of Heywood’s initiatives.
The measure reads the following way in the Washington State Elections voters’ pamphlet:
“This measure would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use and/or promote electrification, and require certain utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers. Should this measure be enacted into law? [ ] Yes [ ] No”
A PDF of I-2066 can be seen here.
‘Yes’ leads, but voting results remain tight
This initiative race is the closest of the four, as approximately 2.9 million votes have been cast, with “Yes” and “No” separated by fewer than three points. About 1.43 million voters, or 51.3%, voted “Yes,” while 1.36 million, or 48.7%, voted “No.”
“Yes” support increased slightly with Wednesday night’s release of additional voting numbers. Initially, 1.4 million people, or 51.35%, voted “Yes,” while 1.35 million, or 48.65%, voted “No.”
The target date for certification of the statewide vote is December 16th. This would allow enough time for the outgoing governor to ask his attorney general—Governor-elect Bob Ferguson—to file a legal motion to invalidate the initiative before Inslee’s term expires.
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Backers have said it also protects natural gas and all energy choices across the state.
“It’s to protect natural gas and propane service statewide by restricting any state, county or city entity from banning, restricting or disincentivizing the use of natural gas for existing or new customers in areas where natural gas is available,” Greg Lane, executive vice president of the BIAW, said.
The BIAW, Washington Hospitality Association (WHA), Washington Realtors, and Associated General Contractors are part of the coalition supporting the initiative.
Let’s Go Washington was set to assist with the signature gathering effort, Lane said earlier this year.
“We are protecting choice from everybody so everybody can choose any energy resource they think is best for their home or business,” Lane said.
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WHA President Anthony Anton noted that Asian restaurants, in particular, worry about a potential natural gas ban.
“They are the third most common cuisine in the state, and many use woks that require an open flame,” Anton said. “There are just not many alternatives for them to rely on.”
Additionally, the measure would overturn recent changes to Washington’s energy code that encourage installing electric heat pumps in new homes, apartments, and commercial buildings.
Editors’ note: This piece originally was published on Wednesday, Nov. 6. It has been updated and republished since then.
Contributing: Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest
Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.
