The Democrats who control Washington State are not only refusing to help lower- and middle- income families with gas tax relief (as other state governments are doing), but their policies will soon increase the cost of gas even further.  Washington State has the third-highest gas tax (at 49.4 cents per gallon) in the country.  A new report from the Washington Policy Center reveals that Governor Inslee’s Cap and Trade policy will add an additional 46 cents to the per gallon cost of gas by next year. So while other states are trying to help their residents by providing tax relief during these inflationary times, the Democrats who control Olympia are actually adding more financial burdens to struggling families. This is occurring as the state’s coffers are overflowing with unexpected tax revenue. Thus the Democrats clearly believe it is more important for the state to have too much money than it is for households to have enough money to pay their bills. (Click to read full Shift article)

Governor Inslee continues to deny that his misguided Cap and Trade policy will have a significant impact on the cost of gas, despite what has occurred when similar policies were passed in other states and what many reports assert will soon take place in Washington State. When the governor was asked about new reports that his Cap and Trade policy will increase the price of gas by 46 cents per gallon by next year, he said, “This is going to have a minimal impact if any. Pennies. We are talking about pennies.  Potentially, not all of this would be passed off to the consumer and what they would (pass on), would be pennies.” The governor even went to far as to say that his cap and trade law might result in gas prices that are, “even lower than they are today.”

What the governor is trying to convince Washington residents to believe is that when oil companies are faced with a higher production cost they will not pass that increase on to consumers through higher prices at the pump.  Yet these are the same oil companies the governor previously asserted were so greedy that they would immediately increase their profits by maintaining high prices if the state’s gas tax was suspended or reduced.  So, out of one side of his mouth, the governor is claiming that the gas companies will absorb the increased costs of his cap and trade policies, while out of the other side Governor Inslee asserts the oil companies are so greedy they will artificially increase the price at the pump if a gas tax is removed. (Q13 Fox News, Washington Policy Center, and CenterSquare)

Following the release of new inflation figures, Republican lawmakers criticized Governor Inslee and the Democrats who control the state legislature for their unwillingness to help Washington State families who are suffering financially.  New figures from the federal Department of Labor revealed that the national inflation rate reached 9.1% in June (the highest in 41 years) and the rate in Washington State hit an incredible 10.1%.  Senate Republican Leader John Braun (Centralia) criticized Governor Inslee’s unwillingness to help lower- and middle- income families with some form of tax relief. “It’s as though he doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care, how people at all levels in our state are being hit by what is now double-digit inflation.”  Senator Braun went on to say the state continues to take in surplus revenue and thus it has the ability to help working families.  “Our colleagues in the majority should join us to end the government greed and get more dollars back into the hands of families. It can be done without harming a single state program or service.” (Washington State Senate Republican Caucus media release and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

County auditors across Washington State have begun mailing ballots for the 2022 Primary Elections. Washington voters should receive their ballots by this weekend in the first statewide vote since the Democrats’ passage of their anti-police package, their expensive cap and trade law, their unconstitutional state income tax on capital gains, their decriminalization of dangerous drug possession, their postponement of the poorly crafted and controversial Long-Term Care tax plan, and numerous anti-farming bills.  At the same time the governor continues to abuse his emergency powers (now on day 865) to eliminate the legislative branch getting in his way (evidently the governor believes the Democrats who control the legislature are incapable of governing the state). The Governor and his fellow Democrat lawmakers have also refused to help lower- and middle- income households with any type of tax relief. (Seattle Times)

Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore released his long-awaited plan to reduce crime in his city despite the department being down 47 officers. The chief’s plan is to focus resources on crime “hot spots” and jailing repeat offenders. Chief Moore said the department has worked with outside crime researchers (from the University of Texas at San Antonio) and they found that 24 locations were responsible for 12% of the city’s violent crimes.  The plan calls for the department to display a constant presence at those 24 locations to deter criminal activity. The Chief also stated there will be a crackdown on those who repeatedly commit crimes. “We’re going to arrest the people that need to be arrested.” Chief Moore said there would be a review of the data every 90 days to ensure the plan is working and to determine if new hotspots need to be added to the list.  (Q13 FOX News)

Democrat imposed vaccine mandates have left the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) severely short staffed and forced the King County Jail system to suddenly stop processing criminals. The SFD has been understaffed 69% of the time in 2022, costing taxpayers $11 million in overtime pay.  When units are not fully staffed then they are “browned out” (taken off-line) and there are fewer medical aid and fire department units available to respond to emergencies in the city. Thus far in 2022 there have been 486 units browned out, compared to 176 units taken offline last year.

Lack of staff forced the King County Jail and the South Correctional Entity (a.k.a. SCORES) to both temporarily close their facilities to new bookings last Sunday evening. This resulted in several arrested criminals not being booked into jail while others were taken 40 miles away to the Snohomish County Jail.

The mandates were imposed by Democrat King County Executive Dow Constantine and then-Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. New Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has chosen to keep the city’s vaccine mandate in place, even though it threatens the safety of Seattle residents who need assistance from first responders. (MyNorthwest)

Liberal Seattle lawmakers disrespectful actions towards Seattle police officers is costing taxpayers millions as the mayor proposes a new plan to pour even more money into recruiting replacements for the 400+ well-trained officers who left the department due to lack of support from city officials.  Previous recruitment incentives by the city failed to bring in enough new recruits to replace those who continue to leave the Seattle Police Department every month.

Mayor Bruce Harrell unveiled his new police recruitment plan which calls for a $30,000 bonus for lateral recruits and a $7,500 bonus for new officers.  The city will also pick up applicant fees, travel expenses, and relocation costs for those who are hired.  The plan must be approved by the city council before it can be implemented.  Many are skeptical that the plan will work since many police departments are providing strong incentives for new officers and nearly all of the other cities have officials who actually support the important and challenging work police officers perform. (KING5 News)

Congressman Dan Newhouse (R – WA4) notes that the overt bias in Governor Inslee’s and Senator Patty Murray’s deeply flawed report on the lower Snake River dams is demonstrated by the limited group of people who were consulted in its preparation.  The congressman from Central Washington wrote in a Grand Coulee Star op-ed that while lawmakers who don’t represent the areas impacted by the dams were consulted for the Democrats’ report, “I was never contacted or consulted to provide information for any of these draft reports — which directly impacts federal infrastructure located in the district I represent.” The representative also pointed out that the report does not include the perspective of “the individuals and families across Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest who rely on the Lower Snake River Dams for their livelihoods.”  As we have often seen from the Democrats, in order for their perspective to appear legitimate, they must first deny any alternative perspectives from being heard. (Grand Coulee Star)

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