Democrats past irresponsible behavior will now force cuts in state programs they created when they thought they would never run out of money.  Governor Jay Inslee and Democrat legislators, with complete control of the state’s budget, acted like drunken sailors by going on a spending spree in which they spent 20% more in this current two-year budget than in the previous one.  Instead of saving money during good times, the Democrats foolishly spent it all (and Inslee even wanted to dip into the “rainy day fund” for ongoing expenses at the start of the year). Democrats must now restrain their greed. Significant cuts will be required due to the loss of tax revenue and to allow the private sector to rebuild the economy. (Shift)

Respected attorney and community leader Mike Vaska announced he is running to become Washington State’s next Attorney General.  In contrast to the ultra-partisan activities of the current AG, Vaska is running on the theme that he “is a professional lawyer and not a professional politician.”  In Vaska’s interview with Shift, he outlines why he is running for Attorney General, his opposition to wasting money in filing dozens of partisan lawsuits against the Trump Administration, and the lack of leadership from the current AG on the homelessness issue. (Shift)

Many of your friends and associates currently have more free time on their hands.  This would a good time to introduce them to the Daily Briefing.  Forward them today’s Briefing and encourage them to register for a free subscription.  You can also provide them with this link to past Daily Briefings. Thank you from your friends at Shift!

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler has asked Governor Inslee to lift restrictions on the residential construction industry to allow workers to build much-needed housing units.  In an op-ed, Senator Schoesler argues that, like on the government construction projects Inslee is allowing to continue, residential construction workers can also work safely.  Schoesler points out that Governor Inslee says he makes his decisions based on data, yet there is no data available to justify Washington being one of only five states to shut down this vitally important industry. (Seattle Times)   

Secretary of State Kim Wyman is asking Governor Inslee and legislative leaders to approve $1.7 million in state funding so the state can collect $8.3 million in federal funding to administer the 2020 elections.  The federal money was authorized by the recent federal CARES legislation, but states must first provide 20% in state funding.  Wyman says the money is needed by county elections offices to provide extra space, additional workers, and cleaning supplies due to COVID-19 (Wyman letter)

Liberals, especially those who receive government paychecks like UW professors, are using COVID-19 as an excuse for governments to be irresponsible with taxpayer money.  As opposed to businesses which are already making tough choices, liberals don’t want government to face reality and live under laws to balance their budgets.  It appears that liberals don’t want to jeopardize their high-priced public jobs (with gold-plated benefits) because of reduced tax revenues resulting from the loss of private sector jobs (and the taxes that come from them). (Crosscut)

A Spokesman-Review editorial states that while some are proposing “rent forgiveness” policies during the coronavirus crisis, people need to be aware that this will impact landlords who are dependent on rent payments to pay for their own mortgage and utilities payments.  This is especially true for small “Mom & Pop” property owners. Any effort to change tenant policies must be cognizant of who ends up paying the bill. (Spokesman-Review)

Last Friday afternoon, Governor Inslee made $445 million in cuts to new programs in line item vetoes of the state’s supplemental budget.  The quick cuts demonstrated there was considerable “want-to-haves” in the state’s budget, as opposed to “need-to-haves”, which had been increased more than 20% from the previous biannual budget.  (KING5 News)

Representative Denny Heck jumped into the already crowded race for Lt. Governor.  This path might be Heck’s best opportunity to achieve his well-known ambition to become governor.  If Biden is successful in November, and if Governor Inslee can obtain a position in his administration, Heck will move into the Governor’s Mansion. (News Tribune)

Amazon continues to support local charities and businesses by donating 8,000 laptops to low-income Seattle students.  Because the Seattle School District was more concerned about clinging to its “equity” political narrative than advancing online education options (likely because of teacher union opposition), the district found itself irresponsibly unprepared to educate students during the coronavirus outbreak.  Amazon’s donation, worth more than $2 million, will help the district adhere to the state requirement that districts must continue to educate students while schools are closed. (Seattle Times)

Meanwhile…Seattle’s irresponsible Socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant continues to promote her job-killing head tax initiative against Amazon and other Seattle employers.  Sawant’s Tax Amazon organization is collecting online signatures “demanding that the state of Washington accept online candidate and initiative petition signatures!”  (BTW, why does Sawant always “demand” things? Can’t she just be a nice person and “ask” for them?)  The organization must collect 30,000 valid signatures to place its head tax measure on the November ballot. (Seattle Times)

Meanwhile…the Seattle Times states, “Only the most out-of-touch politician would think it’s now time to demonize large employers, especially ones already thinking of moving jobs elsewhere,” in an editorial attacking Sawant and fellow councilmember Tammy Morales efforts to impose the job-killing head tax.  The Times calls out the two extreme councilmembers as “politicians who are so consumed by a desire to burn down the establishment and promote themselves, they can’t see the danger at hand.” (Seattle Times)

Despite a setback from the Washington State Supreme Court, City of Seattle officials state they will continue to push for an income tax. Even though a majority of the very liberal members of the state’s highest court failed to find legal reasons to support Seattle’s never-ending quest to jam through an unconstitutional income tax to pay for bigger government programs, the story is not over.  In response to the court’s decision to not hear the lawsuit over the Seattle’s illegal income tax proposal, Mayor Jenny Durkin embarrassingly used COVID-19 to justify an income tax. The mayor then proclaimed, “I will be undeterred in continuing to fight statewide for more progressive taxes.”  (Seattle City Council Insight)

A prohibition against misdemeanor jail bookings has led to an 87% increase in burglary cases in downtown Seattle. The county prohibition was instituted to reduce the possibility of a coronavirus outbreak within local jails. (MyNorthwest)

An inmate at the Monroe Correctional Complex has tested positive for coronavirus. The Washington State Department of Corrections’ medical administration has been under severe criticism in the past couple of years due to procedures and policies that have caused the deaths of at least eight inmates. Now there is a real crisis to deal with. (Everett Herald)

Benton County leads the state in returned 2020 Census forms.  Thus far 50.1% of county’s residents have returned their questionnaire, while overall 45% of Washington households have responded. The national response has been 41.7%. (Tri-City Herald)

The Army Corps of Engineers has received more than 2,200 written comments, heard 300 verbal testimonies, and allowed thousands to participate in physical and teleconference hearings regarding its 6,000-page report on the Snake River dams. Liberal activist groups want to extend the 45-day public comment in hope of delaying the decision that the dams stay in place. (Are they hoping a possible Democrat administration would reverse the study’s findings?)  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ office said enough opportunity was provided for public input throughout the years it took to conduct the study and during the recent comment period.  A McMorris Rodgers spokesperson said, “Especially during the economic crisis caused by this pandemic, people need certainty that our dams, the jobs they support, and the clean, affordable energy they produce, are protected.” Public comment period continues until April 13th.  (Lewiston Tribune)

Smaller rural health care facilities are facing multiple challenges from the coronavirus. As opposed to urban medical providers, few rural clinics are owned by large corporations and thus are more dependent on steady cash flow to play their expenses.  Many rural facilities lost revenue due to cancelling non-emergency health procedures at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.  Like their urban counterparts, rural medical centers are also struggling to purchase personal protection equipment.  It should also be noted that rural areas have a higher concentration of older residents who are more susceptible to COVID-19.  (Washington Ag Network)

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