After the Seattle City Council quickly repealed its controversial jobs tax, Senators Mark Schoesler and Steve O’Ban are sticking with planned bills to outlaw future jobs taxes. Schoesler said, “My bill will make it clear that any future taxing of jobs will be illegal. It’s wrong for Seattle, or any other city in Washington, to undermine the jobs working families depend on simply because of political ideology.” (Washington State Wire) 

House Democrats released parts of an independent investigation that found Rep. David Sawyer (D-Tacoma) violated harassment and ethics policies. The investigation showed Sawyer directed inappropriate behavior toward three women, creating a hostile work environment for one based on gender and another based on sexual orientation. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Some contend Seattle officials may have circumvented Washington’s open public meetings law after they abruptly scheduled a meeting to repeal the jobs tax. “Not only does it appear that the mayor and a majority of the council colluded behind the scenes to reach some collective thinking on holding a meeting about this issue, but they’ve put it out there in a press release in black and white,” said a Seattle attorney. (Seattle Times)

In March, Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez coordinated a survey on the jobs tax. What some officials thought was a fake survey, ended up being her close-to-$8,000, very real survey. And what did the poll of business owners show? When asked if they’d support a $300 head tax on businesses making over $5 million gross, 86.9 percent of the roughly 500 business respondents said no. (My Northwest)

Yakima County Clerk Janelle Riddle is challenging a court order directing her to obtain a $200,000 bond or face removal from office. Superior Court judges issued the order following a state auditor’s report finding more than $13,000 was unaccounted for from Riddle’s office last year. (Yakima Herald-Republic)

During a contentious council meeting, Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart unilaterally ended the meeting after a local activist repeatedly used profane language. “I can cut any meeting,” he said. “That’s why I have a gavel.” Experts on parliamentary procedure disagree. (The Inlander)

Prosser’s City Administrator David Stockdale resigned without explanation. In April, the City of Prosser said Stockdale had been put on administrative leave…again forgoing any explanation. (Tri-City Herald)

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