OLYMPIA — Voters statewide are saying enough to government overreach on natural gas.
In a preliminary tally in the Nov. 5 general election, Initiative 2066 was passing with 2,515,296 supporting votes (51.22%) and 1,227,068 opposing votes (48.78%). In Spokane County the measure had 121,278 (59.52%) votes in favor and 82,445 (40.46%) opposed. The initiative would prohibit the state Building Code Council from discouraging the use of natural gas in any building. It requires gas and utility companies, cities or towns that provide natural gas to provide people or corporations natural gas even if other energy services or sources are available.
Meanwhile, another Initiative 2124 was failing with 1,396,215 votes (55.49%) opposed and 1,119,728 votes (44.51%) in favor.
The measure would have required employees and self-employed people to keep long-term care, with some able to opt out. It would also repeal an exemption for employees.
Passage would not have repealed the tax.
Counting of late-arriving ballots continues until election certification.
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