The head of the Washington Hospitality Association said Governor Jay Inslee’s $135 million “relief” package (which was hastily raised from the $50 million Inslee first proposed) will only cover about 2 days of losses for the state’s bars and restaurants, which the governor targeted with his latest random restrictions.   Even though the governor has no scientific data to support his actions to cripple the industry, last week he prohibited indoor service at the state’s bars and restaurants for at least 28 days.  Some $30 million in the governor’s relief package – which is drawn on federal money which Inslee has a dubious legal ability to spend – is for loans, showing how out-of-touch Inslee is about economic issues.  Representative Gina Mosbrucker (R-Goldendale), who has been in the hospitality industry for 25 years, says, “The last thing we want to do is a loan.  When we add more and more numbers in debt, it feels like, to us, we will close even sooner when we have been in this state of emergency for so long.” Governor Inslee has stubbornly refused to convene a special session of the legislature to develop a plan for assisting the employers and workers his actions have severely impacted. (OPB/AP and Spokesman Review)

Moya Skillman, a Bellevue mother of two sons, is part of School is Essential, a group that is taking on the Washington Education Association’s desires to keep schools closed.  Ms. Skillman points out the state’s own data shows that being in a classroom is one of the safest places for children, adding “the data just isn’t there to support these school closures. We know that these school environments are safer, on average, compared to even going to the grocery store.”  She also stated that hospitals are reporting an increased number of children being admitted to Emergency Rooms, and that the full impact of the pandemic (and the government’s mistakes in dealing with it) on children’s mental health will not be known for years.  (MyNorthwest)

A constituent complaining about the failures of Governor Jay Inslee’s Employment Security Department (ESD) was outgoing Representative Gael Tarleton’s last experience in her Olympia office.  The four-term Democrat legislator, who recently lost her campaign against Secretary of State Kim Wyman, described on Facebook a phone call she received as she was cleaning out her office.  Tarleton answered the phone and the caller said, “Hi, we’re constituents of Rep. Tarleton and needed to speak to her about unemployment benefits. We can’t get anyone at Employment Security to answer our calls or emails.” Seems appropriate, since nearly all calls to legislators during the past eight months have been from constituents frustrated by the dysfunction of Governor Inslee’s administration. (Representative Tarleton Facebook Post)

Even though Jay Inslee was not successful in obtaining the “climate czar” position that President-elect Joe Biden gave to former Secretary of State John Kerry – a presidential campaign loser like Inslee – the governor is still working his contacts to acquire another position in the new administration.  If Inslee does move back to Washington, D.C., there will be a special election to determine who will replace him as governor.  Shift is running a straw poll to see who our readers favor.  Click on the link and let us know who you support. (Shift Gubernatorial Straw Poll)

The Vancouver Columbian joined many other Washington State newspapers in calling for a special session of the legislature to fix Jay Inslee’s lack of an economic plan and assist businesses that have been negatively impacted by the state’s actions against them.  The paper correctly points out that state businesses should not be asked to wait for the U.S. Congress to pass another relief package.  If and when the federal government provides more funds, it can be used to pay back the state, if the package is structed correctly by legislators.  Governor Inslee will likely ignore this sound advice, since it did not come from his small circle of campaign donors he looks to for ideas, and continue to make Washington employers and workers suffer through the holidays. (Vancouver Columbian)

A federal judge has thrown out the permit applications for a proposed $2 billion methanol refinery in Kalama.  Extreme environmentalists and friends of Governor Inslee persuaded a judge that the applications did not include the full analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from the plant.  The proposed plant will turn natural gas into methanol for manufacturing, and provide over 200 jobs in Cowlitz County.  The owners of the proposed plant vowed to continue to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to provide the necessary information for the applications. Extreme Greens vowed to continue fighting against new jobs in the state if any fossil fuel product are involved. (Longview Daily News)

The Everett City Council moved forward on its plan to equip the city’s police officers with body cameras.  The proposal is supported by the police department and many community groups, including the NAACP.  Yet some extreme liberal groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), are against the idea, and would rather have the money for the cameras (nearly $1.5 million over five years) go to community groups, leaving the city open to more expensive lawsuits from friends of the ACLU. (Everett Herald)

A battle between King County and the City of Renton over a large homeless shelter continues, as the Renton City Council proposes legislation that could require the shelter residents to move in six months.  Last April, King County moved 200 residents from downtown Seattle’s Morrison Hotel to the former Red Lion in Renton’s business district.  Soon the number of 911 calls increased in the area.  Last night, the Renton City Council heard testimony on a zoning proposal which would require the shelter to keep its grounds free of graffiti and garbage, and require residents to refrain from using illegal drugs.  Shelter supporters say even these basic concessions to community safety are too restrictive for them to abide by on their limited budget.  The council is expected to vote on the measure next week.  (Seattle Times)

There are reports that the Everett AquaSox could move from being a short-season A league affiliate of the Seattle Mariners to become a full-season High A league team.  This would mean more games and a slightly higher caliber of players  coming to Everett. The move could also bring scheduling complications, since the team shares its stadium with the Everett School District and Everett Community College, which use the field during the Spring. (Everett Herald)

The Executive Director of the Northwest RiverPartners writes in a Tri-City Herald op-ed that one of the things we should be thankful for this holiday season is the clean, cheap energy our region receives from its hydroelectric power system.  Kurt Miller, who leads the hydropower advocacy organization, states that President-elect Biden supports the dams despite many irresponsible Seattle-based environmental organizations seeking to remove them.  Miller writes that hydroelectric power is not only clean, but its low cost also benefits low-income households. (Tri-City Herald)

Because…2020. Walla Walla County Sheriffs arrested a man with over a thousand dollars in stolen property, including over 100 rolls of toilet paper. The sheriff’s office called it, “the largest seizure of stolen toilet paper in agency history.” Meanwhile, Tri-City businesses are asking customers to stop stealing their toilet paper. (YakTriNews)

Did Governor Inslee “jump the shark” with his latest round of closing businesses?  Last week, Jay Inslee continued exercising his one-man rule over Washington, once again shutting down state businesses due to his previous policies failing to prepare for this predicted second wave of coronavirus infections. Yet this time, “Legislators, from both sides of the political spectrum (but mostly Republicans), are calling for a special session to balance the state’s budget and help families (and businesses) survive Inslee’s shut downs, and also to pass legislation to put limits on his dictatorial style of executive orders. Unfortunately, this isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, as this would put an end to the one-man-band approach being inflicted on the residents of Washington by Governor Inslee.” (Shift Article)

(Short articles from Shift)

Governor Inslee refuses to listen. Washington State retailers are the latest victims of the governor’s one-man rule by refusing to listen to their concerns and suggestions before imposing his latest round of restrictions. “If only the retailers had done what the state employee unions have done, and given millions to Inslee for previous campaigns, they too could receive a pay increase from the state in the middle of a pandemic.” (Shift Quick Take)

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