A former economist for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has brought a lawsuit against the state, claiming he was pushed out of his job for refusing to falsify the impact of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) on gas prices, as reported by MyNorthwest. Scott Smith has cited coercion from the Governor’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) and WSDOT to alter his reports, which showed that the cap-and-trade program could significantly raise fuel costs.
Citing his dedication to truth and integrity Smith alleges he faced retaliation after his refusal led to his ouster, stating, “I did my job, refused to ‘jimmy the numbers,’ and was shown the door by an agency that I served with integrity, in a field that I’d worked in for decades. This is not right,” in a written statement Tuesday; Smith also said that he is simply "looking for to be fairly compensated for what the state took from me in what would have been the last few years of my career" Maynard, executive director of the Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) which represents Smith, explained that after the state declined to reconcile Smith's claim, the next course of action was to initiate a lawsuit for unspecified damages, including loss of wages, pension, and reputation plus punitive damages according to MyNorthwest reports.
In tandem with claims of being constructively discharged, Smith's legal battle shines a light on what he describes as "unrelenting hostility and retaliation," which came as a response to his truthful economic forecast on rising gas prices due to state policy, as covered by KING 5. Having spent 35 years in public service, Smith's analytical work in early 2023 suggested a 45 to 50 cent per gallon increase at the pump, a finding adverse to state policy expectations.
The toll on Smith went beyond career disruption, leading to a profound personal impact where his physical and mental health deteriorated, he lost 20 pounds and began taking medication for serious anxiety post fallout saying, “Your mind races. Oh my Lord, it kind of robs you of joy. ... This has not been a good day,” as he recounted the ordeal in an interview with KING 5. With court documentation now public, the case becomes a flashpoint in the ongoing discourse about governmental transparency and employee protections within bureaucratic structures.
