Four Vital Reasons to Vote No on Initiative 2117

Here’s the truth: Initiative 2117 was written to confuse you. So with help from Gary Lai–a literal rocket scientist–we’re breaking down four key reasons why you should vote to reject this deceptive, dangerous initiative.

1. I-2117 Is Sponsored by a Mega-Millionaire Hedge Fund Manager 

A hedge fund millionaire and extremist megadonor poured $6 million of his own money to bankroll I-2117 and other extreme initiatives on the ballot this year. 

On the other hand, more than 570 organizations and Tribal Nations are united against I-2117–firefighters, doctors, teachers, labor unions, small businesses, large employers, and more. That’s an unprecedented coalition. 

We don’t agree on everything, but we can all agree that I-2117 is a bad deal for our beautiful state.

2. I-2117 Means More Toxic Pollution 

More than 10 percent of Washington’s kids already struggle with asthma, and more than one million people in Washington live in communities highly impacted by air pollution. People in these communities are more at risk for asthma, heart disease, strokes, and early death.

I-2117 would make things worse. It would end the requirement for the state to take immediate action to improve air quality across Washington, resulting in more air pollution and ending funding sources for programs to reduce toxic pollution that endangers our kids’ health. It would also stop the expansion of our regional air quality monitoring network that helps alert families when levels of air pollution are dangerous.

3. I-2117 Threatens Clean Water 

Washington state has declared a drought emergency in six of the last 10 years, and drought is most severe in Central Washington. Drought conditions exacerbate wildfires in Washington state due to extremely dry soils and fuels in the form of dry vegetation and landscapes. 

I-2117 threatens water quality and drinking water sources by cutting funding for critical programs that protect and restore lakes, rivers, and streams, including:

• Cutting funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which compensates farmers to plant native vegetation along salmon bearing streams. This protects the environmentally sensitive land promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health;
• Cutting funding for the State to acquire and protect ecologically sensitive lands that play a critical role in preserving natural habitats, supporting wildlife, and maintaining ecosystem health. These cuts will hurt biodiversity, water quality, and recreational opportunities; and,
• I-2117 would also cut funding for wildfire resiliency and prevention programs across the state that make forests healthier and help local governments, private landowners, and communities prevent and prepare for fires in high-risk areas. Wildfires lead to more pollutants entering drinking water sources like lakes, rivers, and streams.

4. I-2117 Puts Our Health at Risk 

Dr. Vin Gupta summed it up well: “As a pulmonologist treating critically ill patients, I know firsthand the devastating effects increased pollution has on our health. I-2117 would make pollution worse, which is why I, along with doctors across Washington state, am calling on voters to reject this dangerous, deceptive initiative.”

Initiative 2117 would threaten Washingtonian’s health by:

• Immediately ending the expansion of our air quality monitoring network, which both alerts families when levels of air pollution are dangerous, and allows state agencies to act to enforce clean air standards.
• Slashing funding for wildfire prevention and forest health programs, which would make communities more vulnerable to wildfires and smoke.
• Cutting $5.4 billion from the statewide transportation plan, including investments to increase electric vehicles and transition from diesel school buses to electric.
• Gutting more than $175 million for infrastructure improvements to make school buildings cleaner, more modern, and safer, including updated HVAC and air filtration systems. Public health data shows that extreme heat and polluted air harm kids’ cognitive abilities, including in school buildings.

I-2117 is dangerous and deceptive. Vote NO on I-2117 this fall.