“The Democratic Party must nominate a candidate who will put fighting climate change at the top of the agenda. And that’s why I’m seriously considering running for president,” wrote Jay Inslee in the Washington Post. Inslee has not been shy about stating which issue, and only issue, Democrat primary voters should use to determine which extremist they should nominate. Unfortunately for Inslee, breaking the record for number of platitudes in a single editorial won’t make up for the fact that all of America says, “Jay Who.” (The Washington Post)

“Every tax authority in the country calls a tax on capital gains an income tax,” wrote Washington Policy Center’s Jason Mercier. Despite a country wide consensus, Inslee and Democrats continue to misrepresent their proposed capital gains income tax as just an excise tax. It seems pretty clear that the left’s motivation for this policy is to set up a lawsuit in hopes the state Supreme Court will legalize an income tax. (Washington Policy Center)

“This governor campaigned twice on not raising taxes, yet every budget he’s ever proposed has raised taxes,” said Rep. Drew MacEwen, (R-Union). “It’s time to start reining in spending.” That’s what Republicans are saying about Inslee and Democrats pushing an income tax. Last week, the Legislature began evaluating the first of the laundry list of Inslee’s tax proposals. (Kitsap Daily News)

With any luck, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will head the warning from a new Seattle Times poll. The poll showed that city and county residents despise tolls. An overwhelming number of respondents say they would not want tolls in downtown Seattle or additional tolls on I-405. “Not much love for tolling,” said pollster Stuart Elway, noting that there was “slightly more support in Seattle than in the suburbs.”  (Seattle Times)

“When almost 70 percent of the people agree with you, then now I have the authority of my constituents backing me to move forward,” said Pierce County Councilmember Pam Roach. Roach was referencing her questionable idea of housing homeless in the county jail. After a mailer sent from Roach’s county office went out misrepresenting available space, Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor sent a note publicly rebuking her. (My Northwest)

The Clark County Council will meet Tuesday to interview and potentially select their newest member to fill Eileen Quiring’s vacant seat after she elevated to council chair. The Clark County Republican Central Committee selected three candidates for the appointment last week – John Ley, an airline pilot and transportation activist, Gary Medvigy, a retired California Superior Court Judge and Army general, and Brook Pell, a local activist. (The Columbian)

Washington State Democrats Chair Tina Podlodowski doesn’t want former Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz to run for president as an independent. “I have two words for Howard Schultz on a potential run for president as an independent: Just. Don’t.,” Podlodowski told the Washington Postwhen asked about the rumored independent run. Instead she hopes he will run as a Democrat as to not fracture the vote and give President Trump an easier re-election. She also mentioned that she’d like some of his cash for building up the local party. (Seattle Times)

Pasco and Richland face similar, yet seemingly uncoordinated efforts to lift their moratoriums on marijuana. Pasco is facing an industry-led effort to lift their ban while Richland sees a citizen-led initiative heading toward the ballot. Proponents in both cases point to the lack of tax revenue coming into the cities from the $1 billion statewide industry as well as the obvious fact that recreational marijuana is legal within Washington. (Tri-City Herald)

The Spokane Valley Fire Department will pay Jon Sprague, a former a captain, $900,000 after he was fired in 2012 for sending religious emails. Sprague claimed the department violated his First Amendment rights by disciplining him for sending religious emails to his Spokane Christian Firefighters Fellowship group. The department maintains that Mr. Sprague was properly terminated for “insubordination arising from his repeated refusal to follow policy and orders,” the department said in a statement. (Spokesman-Review)

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