Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named Governor Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) our February 2022 Porker of the Month for trying to allocate COVID relief funds for his own Green New Deal.

Congress has appropriated more than $4.6 trillion in response to COVID-19 and Gov. Inslee wants to use $627 million of the amount allocated to Washington to fight climate change. His spending plan includes clean building standards, rebates for buying electric vehicles, and $187 million for salmon recovery. This is another example of how billions of dollars are being used for programs that have nothing to do with the pandemic. Gov. Inslee insists “that he can find the money without raising taxes or fees.” He’s right. He won’t have to raise taxes or fees because he is diverting the money for his plan from COVID relief funds.

CAGW President Tom Schatz said, “Gov. Inslee is insistent on misusing funds that should be used to help the state recover from the pandemic. He is insulting Washingtonians and they should be appalled that their governor is blatantly wasting their money. Funds from COVID relief funds should be used solely for COVID relief. He is trying to forge his own Green New Deal, which would be a very bad deal for taxpayers in Washington. For trying to recklessly throw away the taxpayers’ money, Governor Inslee is a perfect choice for CAGW’s February Porker of the Month.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. For more than two decades, Porker of the Month is a dubious honor given to lawmakers and government officials who have shown a blatant disregard for the taxpayers.

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