The proposed tax would be on every barrel of crude oil refined in the state of Washington. Please everyone that reads this understand that although $1.50 seems like a small fee it actually is a huge number when you realize that typical refineries run over 100,000 barrels per day. Additionally if this tax were in effect this last year nearly every refinery in the state of washington would have lost money. Two things would result from this: 1.) An industry that is actually producing many good paying jobs would start laying people off, or worse plants would start closing further destroying the economy that's already in bad shape. If this happens all that money you were supposed to generate would now be gone.

2.) To make ends meet refineries would start passing the cost onto the consumer. Keep in mind, a LOT comes from one barrel of crude oil including jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, even a primary ingredient in the production of aluminum comes from crude oil. I can imagine hikes in the price of not only gasoline, but diesel and even the price of flights out of SeaTac.

3.) Because it's hard to make a profit refining in Washington it will be easier and easier for refineries in other states and other countries to place their products here. Outsourcing is already a huge issue for our economy, why make it even easier for other countries to steal our jobs??

This is probably more than anyone ever wanted to know, but I just can't stress how incredibly short sighted this idea is. I'd propose re-working the budget for this project, I really think we can accomplish the goal of maintaining our roads without all the high spending projects in this bill. If you feel the need to tax oil to raise money, tax the use of the product not the production of the goods. My reasoning for this is that either way gas prices will rise, but at least if you just tax the use of gasoline it will allow hard working people in the state of Washington to keep their jobs.