I live in WA and this comment from Fermion perked my interest so I did some quick investigation.
Ours is still around $4 too, but we are paying a extra carbon tax for all of you global polluters in the other states.
I don't think our WA state gas tax of 49.4 cents per gallon has changed based on the recently passed carbon tax (i.e., "the Climate Commitment Act.")....which is the following:
Under the Climate Commitment Act passed earlier this year (2022), Ecology must set up a cap-and-invest program by 2023. That program will set a statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions, .....
The law requires businesses and organizations that produce more than 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year to obtain emissions allowances for their total emissions. (they buy these "allowances" at an an 'auction').
There was some political falsehoods spread regarding this tax though: No, Washington is not adding an additional 46-cent gas tax in 2023
https://www.krem.com/article/news/v...alse/293-aa0ee04b-c87c-4986-a459-11ac8f8579a7
Most likely these extra 'auction' costs for high carbon businesses are passed on to consumers (e.g, more expensive milk from Darigold), but that is not part of our Gas tax. Furthermore, while I hate paying $4+ for gas in WA just like anybody, our gas tax is not the primary contributor. Some other factors are in play... supply chain, price gouging, ? .
.....according to the
U.S. Energy Information Administration, the
Washington State and federal gas tax of $0.7078 is the 5th in the country, behind Illinois ($0.858), California ($0.835), Pennsylvania ($0.806), and Indiana ($0.723), as of Feb. 2023.
Our 49.4 cent baseline state gas tax has been on the books since 2017 and hasn't increased.
Now, OTOH, if you want to talk about our ridiculously large Property taxes in WA state I'm all ears.