Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be discussing how Jake Fey’s overwhelming corporate PAC contributions connect directly to his actions -and inactions– both in the Transportation and environment committees and in house floor votes. The short and not so sweet of it is that despite Fey continually trying to paint himself as a consistent “environmentalist” or “progressive,” his voting record and many maxed out contributions from corporate polluters, union busters and monopolists show otherwise.
Whither, PSE?
In January this year, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) finally abandoned its permit to expand a liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal in Tacoma. This came after years of opposition from environmentalists and the Puyallup Tribe, including a promise to appeal PSE’s permit before the Shoreline Hearings Board. While some community leaders and local elected representatives joined in opposing the project, 27th Legislative District Representative Jake Fey remained supportive. As far back as 2016, Fey sponsored legislation that would grant PSE the ability to build an LNG plant on the Tide flats.
While Fey has claimed such energy projects create a bridge to a cleaner future, the reality is that building any new fossil fuel projects neglects the dire urgency of climate change. As a recent editorial published in Science stated: “The normative case for ultimately phasing out fossil fuels is strong… However, the movement should focus on a more feasible… step on the road to fossil fuel phaseout: stopping fossil fuel expansion.”
It’s easy for Fey to ignore passionate calls from scientists when his campaign is so generously funded by corporations eager to build new fossil fuel projects. Not only has Puget Sound Energy already doled out the legally allowed amount for both the 2024 primary and general elections, but this year’s donors include Chevron and Phillips 66. Raking it in from dubious sources…
It doesn’t stop there. Fey has received maximum contributions from Amazon, DoorDash, and Alaska Airlines, companies known for their exploitative practices, including very recent and bitter labor disputes.
He has taken large sums from Comcast, who has fought tooth-and-nail to protect their monopolistic control over the internet market in Washington, and Boeing, who is currently under investigation by the Justice Department for multiple allegations of fraud and corruption.
As a state representative, Fey sits on the Environment and Energy committee and chairs the powerful Transportation committee. Can voters really feel confident he is governing in their interest in those roles when his campaign receives the maximum amount allowable from corporations like Weyerhaeuser, BNSF Railway Co / Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and American Traffic Solutions, Inc?
Indeed, according to Fey’s most recent Public Disclosure Commission filing, less than 10% of his contributions came from individuals, and only 13 of them were from people living in the 27th Legislative District.
Our district deserves better. If voters in the 27th LD are to feel confident that their elected leaders are genuinely representing them—that they are responsive to their interests and not fair-weather progressives—then we need politicians willing to eschew corporate donations. We deserve candidates willing to spend their time on grassroots fundraising and people powered campaigns. Above all, we deserve elected leaders who are steadfast in their commitment to never put corporate contributions above a clean environment, a fair workplace, and a democratic political system.
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