One of the things local lawmakers were most proud of when they returned from Olympia last month was their success in stalling Gov. Chris Gregoire’s environmental agenda.

Well, about that …

Gregoire today signed an executive order that calls for state government to “reduce greenhouse gases and battle climate change.”

While the order itself doesn’t impose limits on emissions, it does direct the state Ecology and Transportation departments to work toward setting those limits. Ecology is being asked to work with large industries to find ways to cut emissions. The governor also wants plans for how the state’s largest counties can reduce the number of vehicles driven.

“We must protect the health of citizens, the health of our environment, and the health of our economy, from the threats of climate change,” Gregoire said in a news release. “We must leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. We will do this by inviting leadership and innovation, which will lead to the creation of thousands of green-collar jobs.”

State Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, doesn’t view it quite the same way. Honeyford, the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Water and Energy Committee, sees the executive order as an end-run around the Legislature.

“The governor has decided to ignore the will of the people and legislative process and move forward with these job-killing measures,” he said in a written statement.

State Rep. Bruce Chandler believes Gregoire is, in effect, priming the Legislature for more environmental legislation next session. Calling today’s order an “ambiguous agenda”  that could increase prices on consumer goods “in every step of the suppy chain,” Chandler said he’s preparing to fight the environmental measures next year when the Legislature reconvenes.

“Anything the Department of Ecology proposes, or Transportation, willl have to come to the Legislature for approval,” Chandler said by phone. “And there will have to be a way to fund it.”

State Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, likewise said she will continue to oppose such measures.

“I am not willing to sacrifice my constituents’ jobs, force them to pay higher utility bills, and tax them based on the miles they drive or size of their engine for proposals that will have no impact on the environment,” she said in a written statement.

- Pat Muir