Both the State Senate and House Democrats released their 2022 supplemental budgets on Monday and both 700 page-plus documents clearly prove that the Democrats’ top priority is to grow the size and cost of state government.  Just as clear from what the Democrats left out was that they have no desire to assist those who are currently struggling economically due to liberal inflationary policies.  While the Democrats made sure their campaign supporters in the state employee unions receive yet another pay raise (on top of a lump sum bonus), the Democrats snubbed Washington taxpayers by providing no meaningful tax break despite billions in surplus.

The budget proposals clearly show the Democrats’ hypocrisy when they spew complaints about the state’s “regressive” tax policies. They were given a clear chance to reduce the state’s regressive sales tax, and they chose not to assist those lower-income households which the tax hurts the most.

By refusing to provide either sales or property tax relief while the state is flush with a record-breaking $10.7 billion revenue surplus, the Democrats confirmed they have absolutely no desire to ever cut taxes, and that while they are in charge, they will continue to focus on making government larger and more expensive. The state budget has now more than doubled (from $32.1 billion to $65.7 billion) in the past nine years since Governor Jay Inslee got control of the checkbook, and there appears to be no limit to the Democrats’ greed to take even more money from taxpayers in the future.

Both the House and Senate Democrats released their secret supplemental budgets on Monday, just a few hours prior to public hearings on the proposals.  While state laws dictate that all legislation must be made public five days before public hearings, legislative Democrats felt they did not need to follow this government transparency requirement.  The Democrats kept the public and Republican legislators in the dark over their budget plans, yet they made sure their campaign contributors in liberal special interest groups were given advanced briefings on the contents of their proposals. Many of the liberal echo chamber’s high-paid lobbyists signed up last week to speak in favor of the proposal the rest of the world had not yet been allowed to view.  (Washington Policy Center, Annual Washington State budgets, and Cargill Facebook post)

Republicans expressed their displeasure that the Democrats have once again snubbed Washington State taxpayers and have chosen to not help lower-income households with a meaningful cut in the state’s sales tax.  Representative Drew Stokesbary (R – Auburn) said, “it is deeply disappointing that, despite record revenue growth, the majority party’s budget proposal does not provide any real tax relief for working families.”  As the Republican budget expert in the House, Representative Stokesbary once again released his own budget outline, which includes reducing the state sales tax a full percentage point.  It also seeks to lower consumer costs by reducing the state B&O tax on business sectors (including food processors, manufacturing, and lumber) which are being hit the hardest by the Democrats’ inflationary policies.

Among the spending priorities of the Republican proposals are grants to employers who continue to suffer because of Governor Inslee’s never-ending “emergency” restrictions and mandates. The proposal would also repeal the Democrats’ poorly developed mandatory Long-Term Care payroll tax and replaces it with a fully funded optional plan. To improve the public safety in the state, after a dramatic increase in crime rates due to liberal policies, the Republican plan would provide funds to local communities to retain and recruit police officers.  (House Republican Caucus media release)

Republican legislative caucus and transportation leaders sent a letter to Governor Inslee and their Democrat legislative counterparts to express their “deep concern” over the Democrats’ transportation package, which includes a (likely unconstitutional) 6 cents a gallon tax on fuel refined in Washington State before it is sent to our neighbors.  Both Democrat and Republican governors of Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho have expressed their outrage over this unprecedented interstate tax Washington Democrats are seeking to impose. All have stated they will retaliate with similar taxes which will negatively impact Washington State consumers. This morning the Idaho legislature unanimously supported a resolution calling on Governor Inslee to veto the Democrats’ transportation package if passed with the offensive tax provision by the Washington legislature.

In the letter from House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox (Yelm), Senate Republican Leader John Braun (Centralia), Representative Andrew Barkis (Olympia), and Senator Curtis King (Yakima), the lawmakers stated it is very easy to avoid this pending tax retaliation war with Washington’s neighbors.  The Republicans (again) suggested shifting the sales tax of motor vehicles from the state’s general fund and place it in the state’s transportation budget to obtain the revenue the Democrats are seeking from their refined oil export tax.  As the transportation package is being jammed quickly though the legislative process, it will be interesting to see if the Democrats are interested in avoiding multiple “tax wars” with our neighboring states, or if their transportation package will be yet another piece of poorly crafted legislation (like their Long-Term-Care payroll tax and “police reform” package) which cause such unnecessary and serious disruption in the state that even Democrats knew they had to be fixed by future legislators. (Washington House Republican Caucus media release, CenterSquare, and Idaho Legislature)

The owner and publisher of the Centralia Chronicle pointed out a very disturbing trend among Washington State Democrat officials – that their actions clearly demonstrate that they believe “we know better than you.”  Chad Taylor writes that the House Democrats’ recent passage of new workplace ergonomics laws runs contrary to how citizens previously voted when they passed Initiative 841 by 53%, which demonstrated that they didn’t want the state to imposed expensive ergonomic regulations on employers. This action follows a long-standing trend of Democrats of ignoring the wishes of voters.  Despite voters shooting down a state income tax 10 times, the 2021 legislature passed a state income tax on capital gains.  Twice voters previously rejected Governor Inslee expensive and ineffective climate legislation, yet the current legislature passed similar bills. As Taylor writes “I could go on for nine and a half hours and describe” further examples of how the Democrats ignored the will of the people. He concludes his article by stating, “we should all agree the governor and current legislative majorities are not listening to the will of the people. People feel ignored and there is evidence to support that feeling. We can only hope that next year brings more balance to the Legislature and checks on the executive branch.” (Centralia Chronicle)

Speakers at Monday’s public hearing in front of the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations stated that the Democrats’ reform of the governor’s emergency powers is weak for it does nothing to curb the ability Governor Inslee, and any future governor, to abuse their authority.  The speakers argued the bill (SB 5909) places no time limits on the use of emergency powers and that if a future governor’s party also controls the legislature, the governor can wield unchecked powers for more than 720 days, as Governor Inslee has already done.  The speakers encouraged the House members to pass meaningful reform like the one (HB 1772) introduced by Representative Chris Corry (R-Yakima) placing a 60-day limit on the governor’s emergency powers. (KEPR and Washington Legislature Bill Summary)

Yesterday Shift reported that City of Seattle officials had removed the homeless encampment across from the entrance of Seattle City Hall.  Unfortunately we were too quick to make that assessment based on early reports.  Evidently the few protestors who showed up to the encampment were able to intimidate city workers from removing all the tents, garbage, and used drug needles which currently litter the Fourth Avenue sidewalk. The city now claims the workers were there to just remove some of the garbage, despite postings at the encampment stating that all belongings needed to be removed by last weekend because the city was going to remove all items blocking the sidewalk.  (KOMO News)

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who has never held a public town hall meeting in her 30 years in office, has finally agreed to hold one – but good luck getting a chance to ask her a tough question.  Senator Murray, who became famous for her claim of being “Just a mom in tennis shoes,” has made good use of her sneakers by running away from members of the public who wished to ask her legitimate questions.  While former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton used to hold 12 – 15 town halls a year around the state, Senator Murray has chosen to stay isolated in Washington, D.C.  She even lied five years ago about why she refused to hold public meetings, saying it is easier for House members to hold town halls (yes, that response makes no sense to us either).

Now the liberal six-term incumbent, who can be counted on to always vote as her party bosses tell her to vote, is facing a tough reelection battle due to the Democrats’ failed national and state policies. So, Senator Murray is putting on the appearance of holding a “virtual” town hall meeting.

The problem is that the town hall is being conducted not by the Senator’s office, but by FUSE, an extreme Left-wing group which will certainly protect the 71 year-old senator by screening out any tough questions which voters might wish to ask.  The event will be held Wednesday, February 23, at 6:30 PM, and is for Southwest Washington residents.  It will be livestreamed on Facebook. (Vancouver Columbian and Seattle Times)

While Senator Murray is holding a fake town hall meeting with a liberal special interest group screening all questions (see story above), Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers will be holding a series of in-person town halls this week and will be also hosting phone and virtual meetings in the coming weeks. Tonight the Congresswoman will be in Republic.  On Wednesday, she will hold town halls in Elk and Newport. Then on Thursday, she will hold events in Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley. In March, Representative McMorris Rodgers will be holding two virtual town meetings for specific groups. The first will be for Seniors and the second one will be for parents.  Please go to the linked webpage for details on how to participate. (Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers website)

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