Proposal to boost Washington state's hazardous-substances tax gaining momentum

"OLYMPIA — Environmentalists seeking to clean up Puget Sound may be on the verge of a major political victory, with a proposal to boost the state's hazardous-substances tax to deal with polluted stormwater gaining traction in the closing days of the legislative session.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday in favor of a bill nearly doubling the tax, paid largely by oil refineries, to raise $80 million a year for stormwater-cleanup projects across the state.

Supporters say they're close to the 25 votes needed to pass the bill out of the full Senate and believe they have majority support in the House. Gov. Chris Gregoire also backs the idea.

"We feel like we've got the most momentum we have had in memory to come up with the funding for Puget Sound and dealing with stormwater," said Cliff Traisman, state lobbyist for the Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters...."