Is Governor Jay Inslee using vaccine mandates to rid state agencies of some of his political opponents? While 45,000 homecare workers represented by the governor’s major campaign contributor at the Service Employees International Union were given exemptions from his orders, thousands of other state employees have lost their jobs due to Governor Inslee’s one-man decisions. This is just one of many decisions the governor has made while completely abusing his so-called “emergency” powers (today is day 598) which often appear to benefit his political friends and have caused many citizens to believe their voice is not being heard.  Costly lawsuits are being filed across the state by impacted workers and many state services (the State Ferry System being the most visible) are suffering. (Click to read full Shift Article)

127 employees of the Washington State patrol chose not to comply with Governor Jay Inslee’s controversial vaccination mandate and were separated from their state jobs on Monday.  The numbers hurt, as 74 were commissioned officers and 53 were civil servants. The governor made the vaccination mandates for most state employees unilaterally and excluded from his “I’m the only one” who can make these decisions approach any members of the Washington State Legislature (who are constitutionally responsible for writing laws) or even local health officials who might be counted on to know more about their own communities.

There likely would have been more compliance to the government mandate if people felt their voice was considered before Inslee imposed the mandates. Also, many are upset that the governor did not includes 45,000 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who are homecare workers in his mandates.  This is troubling, considering the SEIU members work very closely with those who are the most vulnerable to the effects of COVID, the elderly and the seriously ill, and to offset this reality the union has given millions supporting Inslee’s campaigns over the years.  (Seattle Times and OPB)

House Republican Leader JT Wilcox (R – Yelm) and Senate Republican Leader John Braun (R – Centralia) issued a joint statement criticizing Governor Inslee’s punitive and divisive vaccine mandate, which is one of the most restrictive in the country.  The joint statement said results of the mandates are that many state residents feel less safe due to the loss of first responders and that the governor “is dividing the public – segregating us and turning people against each other.”  The statement also pointed out that other state’s governors (and President Joe Biden) have found ways to accommodate their workers who have chosen not to be vaccinated, mainly by instituting weekly COVID testing.

The two Republican leaders again attacked the governor’s abuse of his emergency powers. “Exercising sweeping, unchecked emergency powers for 600 days is excessive, undemocratic, and just plain wrong, especially when the person with those powers is the only one who can end them. What motivation does he have to restore the balance of power, especially when the majority party’s complacency won’t even allow discussion of possible legislation to reform executive powers?” (Wilcox and Braun joint media release)

A new Seattle-based independent expenditure organization has made a big splash in the Seattle City Attorney race by making a major purchase of Seattle Times advertising to post some personal observations from radical candidate Nicole Thomas-Kennedy.  Seattle for Common Sense, a group originally created by SoDo employers, purchased front-page banner ads to feature Thomas-Kennedy’s own tweets, such as, “Property destruction is a moral imperative” and promote her self-described “rabid hatred for the police.”

The ads features the tag line which says, “Nicole Thomas-Kennedy is too reckless & extreme” and “She’s unfit to be Seattle City Attorney.” According to Seattle Ethics and Elections files, Seattle for Common Sense has received $315,000 from 75 different contributors, with approximately 75% coming from Seattle residents (nearly all the rest is from Eastside residents who are Seattle employers).

Thomas-Kennedy is supported in her efforts by the Chair of the Washington State Democrats, Tina Podlodowski, who thus far has not been publicly questioned for her questionable endorsement by Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, any other elected Democrat official, or any other local candidate endorsed by Podlodowski’s Washington State Democrat Party. (Screen grabs of Seattle for Common Sense ads, Seattle Ethics and Elections financial reports, Tina Podlodowski Twitter, and “Rooted to Win” candidates)

Seattle’s sales tax revenues dropped by 13.3% during 2020, as fewer people felt safe traveling into the city and spending money.  A new report from the Washington State Auditor’s Office revealed that Seattle’s sales tax revenue dropped from $348.5 million in 2019, to $302 million last year.  Any guess how soon before a misguided city councilmember (say, Andrew Lewis) uses the drop in sales tax as a justification to impose higher taxes elsewhere, instead of seeing the sales tax revenue reduction as the result of poor public safety policies imposed by the city’s liberal elected officials?  (The Center Square and Washington State Auditor Office report)

Former Democrat Washington State Senator Rodney Tom was critical of many government entities continuing to work at reduced-service levels without any corresponding reduction in taxes. The former Eastside senator was one of the few elected Democrats who did not become beholden to government employee unions and the so-called progressive belief that the solution to all problems is a bigger and more powerful government.

In a Facebook post, Tom was initially upset that local libraries are still operating at reduced hours, but tax levels remain the same. Tom wrote, “The private sector (Costco, Home Depot, grocery stores, etc) have figured it out, it’s time for the public sector to either step up or start reducing taxes commensurate with their decreased service levels.” (Rodney Tom Facebook)

Six Seattle Police Department employees were terminated after lame-duck Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s vaccine mandate, and 103 more have been placed on leave due to requesting either a medical or religious exemption.  All dismissed employees will be provided a hearing to argue their case.  The police department issued a statement warning citizens that “there may be some impacts to service levels, especially given our loss in staffing over the past two years.” Ya think? (MyNorthwest)

A new group called Tacoma Safe has been organized by employers and residents to fight the increase in violent crime and homeless encampments. Violent crime has been increasing, with a 7% uptick in the last few years. Besides working with city officials to provide additional protection, the group is also volunteering to clean up garbage and remove graffiti. (News Tribune)

The Spokane Sheriff’s Office is attempting to recruit any of the Washington State Patrol officers who were recently separated from their jobs due to Governor Inslee’s vaccine mandate.  The Sheriff’s Office posted a 30-second video on Twitter this morning asking the question, “Looking for a place where you are appreciated & wanted?” The video features other officers who have recently joined the department, and includes the banner “No Mandatory Vaccinations Required.”  Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich concludes the short presentation by stating, “We want you to come work for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.” (Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Twitter)

Tree fruit growers who are impacted by the serious congestion at West Coast ports (along with a shortage of refrigerated containers) are also having difficulties shipping via land to Mexico and Canada. Normally 30% of the state’s apples, pears, cherries, and other tree fruits are sent overseas. The supply-chain problems in the international markets have forced local growers to find other markets accessible by land. Yet the lack of containers is impacting these trade lanes as well.  The one positive aspect of the reduced harvest levels due to extreme heat this past summer is there is much less product to ship in some of the commodities – way to go Jay! (Wenatchee World)

Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich was fired from his position thanks to Governor Inslee’s vaccine mandate. The coach apparently sought a religious exemption, but it was denied by the university.  Rolovich was in the second year of his contract and was the highest paid Washington State employee, with an annual salary of $3.2 million.  Four of Rolovich’s assistant coaches were also fired for not being vaccinated. (CBS Sports)

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