(Olympia, WA)  --  Washington state lawmakers are considering a proposal for what would be the nation's first direct tax on carbon emissions from fossil fuels.  More than 350-thousand Washington voters signed a petition for Initiative 732, which would tax businesses and individuals 25 dollars for every metric ton of carbon dioxide produced.  The Legislature must decide during the current session whether to authorize the carbon tax or send the initiative to voters this fall.  If the law is approved, any revenue generated by the carbon tax would be returned to Washingtonians through various tax cuts.