Shift spoke with Discovery Institute Co-Founder (and Chairman of the Board) Bruce Chapman regarding his recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on the nation’s mental health problems and how Washington State – under Democrat leadership – has failed to provide the resources to adequately help those who are suffering.  Chapman was elected to serve on the Seattle City Council (back when diversity of thought was still allowed at Seattle City Hall) and as Washington Secretary of State before being picked by President Ronald Reagan to serve as the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. He co-founded the highly respected Discovery Institute in 1990.

Chapman’s WSJ article focused on what needs to be done at the federal level (where U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been a strong advocate) to improve our treatment of mental health issues.  In our discussion with Chapman we focused on what needs to be done at the state level, where both Western State Hospital and Eastern State Hospital have faced serious setbacks during the Inslee Administration. Chapman provides his thoughts on what needs to be done, advice to Republicans on what they should do if they gain control of the legislature this fall, and details what the public can do to raise awareness about mental issues. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

Democrats try to take credit for success, but fail to mention that the state’s strong credit rating is due to the Washington State government not being dependent on a state income tax – which liberal lawmakers are working so hard to impose on all of us.  Last week Democrat Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti issued a press release to garner attention for himself and highlight the state’s strong credit score from various credit rating services. Yet, as Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center pointed out, this strong credit rating is due to the state not being dependent on an unpredictable and wildly fluctuating state income tax which Democrat lawmakers have long sought to impose.

You don’t have to just take Mercier’s word for it. Standard & Poor’s stated, “The ratings reflect our view of Washington’s: Sales tax-based revenue structure, which has demonstrated less sensitivity to economic cycles than income tax-reliant states…” and ““Washington’s revenues have historically exhibited less cyclicality than others (due in part to the lack of a personal income tax) . . . we have observed that capital gains-related tax revenues are among the most cyclical and difficult to forecast revenues in numerous other states.” (Washington State Treasurer media release and Washington Policy Center report)

King County will soon be declaring the fentanyl overdose problem a public health crisis, yet the county’s liberal “leadership” seems unprepared (or unwilling) to do what is necessary to stop a record number of deaths from occurring.  The county has already seen 264 deaths due to fentanyl overdoses in 2022, and the grim toll will surely pass last year’s annual record of 396 deaths.

To combat the growing number of overdose deaths, the King County Public Health Department has sent out flyers encouraging addicts to get high in groups and to take turns getting high (so there is someone alert enough to call 911).  Yet, there appears to be no discussion about correcting the failed liberal policies which have been major contributors in the region’s severe drug/crime/homeless crisis.  Consider that liberals have decriminalized possessing lethal drugs such as heroin, methamphetamines, and fentanyl. Or that liberals have severely slashed police budgets, which has hampered law enforcement’s ability to investigate and arrest drug criminals. And liberals have imposed revolving-door sentencing policies which do nothing to stop the addict who steals to feed their addiction. What liberals haven’t done is show any willingness to address ending the cycle of substance abuse for those living a cruel existence on the street. (MyNorthwest)

Former Bellevue City Councilmember and Eastside community leader Kevin Wallace took issue with the Seattle Times’ self-assessment of its 2022 endorsements, in which the far-Left editorial page falsely claimed to have been equally supportive of Republican and Democrat candidates.  Wallace points out in a Facebook post that the Seattle Times has thus far been overwhelmingly supportive of the Democrat candidates and their failed policies. Wallace writes, “So far the Seattle Times Ed Board has made 26 endorsements and only 4 were Republican, so let’s dispense with the ‘we’re bipartisan’ BS.” (Kevin Wallace Facebook)

The Seattle Times points out that both the Seattle Public Schools and the Bellevue School District have experienced a significant drop in enrollment (7.7% and 9.7% decline respectively) over the past two years, which is much higher than what other districts across Washington experienced (approximately 3.5%) during the pandemic. The newspaper encouraged both districts to tighten their belts (a given since they will both lose state and federal funds which are based on the number of enrolled students) and to assess why parents have lost such confidence in school leaders.  The assessment should not be very difficult, as both school districts clearly put the demands of the teachers’ unions above the requirement to educate the children during the pandemic, and parents noticed. (Seattle Times)

Yakima County Commissioners have placed a moratorium on approving solar farms until the county develops a comprehensive plan on how projects should be reviewed and approved.  There are already two solar farms approved in Yakima County (one by the state and another by the county) and there are two more currently under consideration.  Agriculture and environmental groups are both concerned with the current process.  County Commissioner Amanda McKinney worries that solar farms are not the best use of the lands which are well-suited for growing crops and environmental groups are concerned about the loss of habitat. (Yakima Herald)

New construction is the leading factor for the recent increase in apartment vacancy rates and lower rents in Yakima County. Last year vacancy rates were less than 1% (for comparison, 3% is considered a “very tight” market). This spring the available unit number has climbed to 4.6%. Average rent in Yakima County is $728 per month. (Yakima Herald)

Shift’s previous Newsmaker Interview was with Mark James, Republican candidate for an open State House seat (Position 2) in the 38^th Legislative District (North Snohomish County).  Earlier this year, nine-term Democrat Representative Mike Sells announced his retirement after his district which went through major realignment during the redistricting process.  The district became more attractive for GOP candidates with the inclusion of moderate and conservative areas outside of Everett.  James and Gary Kemp, a fellow Republican candidate running in the Position 1 House seat, are attempting to do something many people thought was impossible before redistricting, which is sending two Republican representatives to Olympia from a district which was solidly Democrat.

James is currently a Marysville city councilmember, a small business owner, and a U.S. Army Veteran.  In his interview, James provided his thoughts on the Democrats’ disastrous anti-police laws, the need to provide tax relief to help struggling families, and his belief that the Democrats’ poorly developed Long-Term Care payroll tax needs to be repealed. With thousands of Boeing manufacturing jobs in the district, James also explained what the state needs to do to keep those jobs in Everett.  James also outlined the recent developments which give Republicans a great opportunity to win in the 38^th Legislative District. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

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