Here is an opportunity for Shift readers to ask Governor Inslee their pressing questions.  After his disastrous appearance on Q13’s “The Divide,” we believe Governor Inslee will avoid situations where he is asked serious questions about the many partisan and definitely unscientific actions he has taken while responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.  The online media outlet Crosscut will be conducting an interview with Governor Inslee on Tuesday, June 2^nd, and its editors have asked the public for questions.  We encourage our readers to submit their questions, for this may be the only opportunity we will have to find out why Inslee and his appointed bureaucrats did not protect the state better from the theft of “hundreds of millions of dollars,” why the governor disbanded the bi-partisan Business Recovery Legislative Task Force and replaced it with three “advisory” groups made up of campaign supporters, why the governor chose to be so politically partisan during the current crisis, and form the (Democrats only) Western States Pact and ignored our neighbor Idaho and our major trade partner Alaska because they have Republican governors, or why state employees (who experienced almost no wage loss during the shutdown of the economy) deserve another 3% pay raise on July 1^st.  Please take the time to pose questions like these, and we will see if Crosscut’s editors and reporters will ask the governor to respond to the concerns that so many Washingtonians have about the governor’s questionable decisions. (Crosscut and Q13’s The Divide)

Governor Inslee’s partisan and divisive behavior will likely negatively impact Washington State’s economic recovery.  During a recent Seattle Chamber of Commerce webinar, Inslee economic advisor Charles Knutson said the state is hoping for a seat at the table when the federal government considers infrastructure construction projects to help rebuild the national economy.  Yet, rational observers can expect Washington State to receive a cool reception from the Republican administration in charge of a potential infrastructure bill, not only because of Inslee’s numerous personal attacks on President Donald Trump, but also because of the governor’s partisan approach to the coronavirus crisis.  From the opening days of the outbreak, when the governor decided it was more important to post a divisive tweet than to do what was best for Washington citizens, Governor Inslee has consistently placed his personal political agenda over leading a unified effort in containing the virus. (Puget Sound Business Journal, MyNorthwest, and Shift)

Washington State media members appear to be more upset about the legitimate criticism they are receiving, over their limited coverage of the historic scam of “hundreds of millions of dollars” from the Employment Security Department, than they are with the Inslee Administration for allowing the heist to take place.  KTTH’s Todd Herman has criticized the media for being more enthralled with “black bears on freeways, Ryan Leaf’s latest troubles and yet another apparently crazy man in Seattle making crazy threats,” than they are in reporting on one of the largest thefts of taxpayer money to take place in our country’s history. We wonder if the media’s attention to this story would be the same if it was the incompetence of a Republican administration that allowed this robbery of tax dollars to take place. (MyNorthwest)

This is Day 7 since we learned about the extent of the Nigerian scam that took “hundreds of millions of dollars” from the Washington State Employment Security Department.  Today is also the first day since that announcement that Inslee has held a press conference where he might be asked why his administration failed to protect these funds. We suppose the governor wanted to take full advantage of the three-day weekend (while thousands of Washington state residents spent the weekend anxiously awaiting the promised check that has been delayed because of the heist). (Seattle Times and Denny Westneat)

Glen Morgan interviews attorney Mark Lamb, who represents two high profile clients in coronavirus related legal matters. Lamb successfully represented gubernatorial candidate Joshua Freed in legal proceedings to allow religious counseling to safely continue, by forcing Governor Inslee’s attorneys to admit no arrests would be made of those violating state religious practices’ guidelines.  Lamb also represents Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney, who has come under attack for saying his department will not arrests individuals who disobey Governor Inslee’s orders while observing core constitutional liberties.  Instead Snohomish County officers will use other methods (education and persuasion) to encourage individuals to comply. Lamb stated that it is interesting that Fortney’s political opponents are trying to make the Sheriff appear extreme and careless, but fail to mention that no law enforcement agency in the state has arrested anyone (yet) for not complying with Governor Inslee’s orders.  (We the Governed YouTube)

The Washington State Republican Party will be (virtually) hosting their 2^nd annual “Heart of the Party” event on Thursday, May 28^th, at 5:00 PM.  The video/phone event will feature Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Representative Dan Newhouse.  The suggested donation amount is $40. (Washington State Republican Party)

Thurston County became the first Puget Sound urban county to be allowed to move to Phase II in the state’s economic recovery.  It is not surprising that the home of state government (and tens of thousands of state employees) is the first of the Puget Sound area’s seven urban counties (along with Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Kitsap, and Pierce counties) to be allowed to resume some economic activities by the governor and his staff (who will need local high-end boutiques to be open when state lawmakers and employees receive their pay raises in a few weeks). (News Tribune)

While neighboring non-tribal small businesses remain closed due to Governor Inslee’s order, his political contributors at the Tulalip Resort Casino opened their doors to hundreds of patrons.  After providing tribal casinos with a monopoly on sports betting in March, Governor Inslee has done nothing to discourage his tribal political supporters from conducting activities his administration believes are unsafe for non-tribal businesses.  Why hasn’t Inslee said that tribal leaders must want everyone over 60 to die, the same way he labeled those who simply asked questions about his actions?  Governor Inslee is learning that being beholden to your political contributors, instead of following one’s principles, often leads to double standards. (Everett Herald,  Sequim Gazette, and Q13’s The Divide)

As Western Washington residents returned to the trails, they were greeted by fake signs saying “killing hornets” were nearby.  The phony notices looked as if they were from state agencies, but government officials say they did not post the warnings. Maybe it was the Nigerians hacking a different state agency? (Bellingham Herald)

Spokane’s mayor and city council members will not receive a raise until 2022, because an independent commission felt this was not the time to increase salaries.  Commission Chair Dycelia Weiss said, “I’d like to see Spokane get back on their feet before we put more, additional responsibilities on the taxpayers to support the council.” Liberal members of the city council had called for a raise, while new Mayor Nadine Woodward said this was not the appropriate time.  One wonders if state officials have seen this and have reservations about the pay raise Jay Inslee and other lawmakers are to receive starting July 1^st. (Spokesman Review)

The Washington State Attorney General’s office is attempting to delay a lawsuit filed by Douglas County residents over Governor Inslee’s orders to keep their local businesses closed. Bob Ferguson’s office has filed a motion to move the case to Thurston County, perhaps because he does not speak “Eastern Washington.” A hearing on the state’s motion will be held on Friday.  A similar lawsuit has been filed by residents of neighboring Chelan County.  A hearing is to be held in that case this afternoon. (Wenatchee World)

Yakima school officials have canceled a drive-in graduation event due to the high prevalence of the coronavirus in the county.  A “car caravan” to honor the students is still scheduled, but officials say this event may also be canceled. (Yakima Herald)

Six of the Republican candidates for Governor will take part in a virtual debate on Friday, May 29^th, at 6:30 PM. The event is hosted by the Spokane Republican party and the College Republicans. The event is free, and you must register in advance to view. (Eventbrite)

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