Shift’s Newsmaker Interview is with Republican House candidate Brett Johnson, who is taking on controversial two-term Democrat Representative Melanie Morgan in the 29^th Legislative District (Tacoma and Central Pierce County). Last week the Chief Clerk of the House of Representative released an independent report which found that Representative Morgan had “engaged in abusive and bullying conduct” in her role as Chair of the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force.

Johnson is an Air Force veteran and a small business owner. In his interview, Johnson provides his thoughts on the just-released investigation on the unprofessional conduct of his incumbent opponent.  As violent crime continues to break records in Tacoma, Johnson states his top priority will be to repeal Democrat bills “which have hampered law enforcement.” He states he is hearing the financial concerns of his neighbors and he supports tax relief which will help those who are most vulnerable. Johnson calls for repeal of the Democrats’ poorly developed Long-Term Care payroll tax. Finally, he states that an autobiography written by an NCAA Basketball Hall of Fame coach has been his favorite book for a longtime. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

The state could be subject to $300 million in federal court fines because the Inslee Administration continues to defy orders to provide mental health care to suspected criminals who need treatment before being deemed competent to stand trial.  The Inslee Administration’s actions have caused a significant backlog of prisoners who are forced to sit in local jails not receiving treatment.  This is the latest in a series of major mental health care problems the state has experienced  under Governor Jay Inslee leadership. Both Western State Hospital in Steilacoom and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake have been subjects of federal investigations and penalties due to poor management of the facilities.  So while Governor Inslee has more than doubled the cost of state government in his decade in the governor’s mansion, he has used the increased tax revenue to hire more state workers (whose union dues fund Democrat campaigns) and ignored those with mental health issues who desperately need state assistance.  (Click to read full Shift Article)

The Washington Research Council developed a chart which shows that workers in the state will have twice the amount of money taken from their paychecks next year for state taxes than they did in 2022.  This is due to the rise in fees for the state’s already bankrupt paid family and medical leave program (PFML) and the post-election implementation of the Democrats’ poorly developed (and also already bankrupt) Long-Term Care (LTC) payroll tax, which is currently scheduled to begin on July 1^st of next year. The increases in the state’s payroll taxes are significant, and they will negatively impact the take-home pay of Washington workers, including those making minimum wage.

For those working full time at minimum wage (which comes to an annual salary of $32,739) their state payroll deduction for 2022 (for just the PFML tax) is $143.83.  This will jump to $285.52 (due to the increased PFML fees and a half year of paying the new LTC tax) next year.  This is an increase of $141.69 the state will collect from minimum wage workers’ paychecks. Thus state payroll taxes will leap 98.5% for people currently struggling to pay their bills.

For those making the state’s average annual salary of $82,508 their state payroll tax will increase from $362.48 for 2022 to $719.56 in 2023.  This is a $357.09 increase , which is also 98.5% higher.

So while other states are using their surpluses in tax revenue to provide tax relief to their residents, Governor Inslee and the Democrats who control the Washington State Legislature are using the state’s surplus revenue to give their pollical contributors in the state employee unions five significant pay raises in four years and then nearly doubling the state’s portion of payroll taxes and increasing fees (by as much as 500%!) for driver’s licenses, plates, and other state services.  It is hard to believe that Washington state taxpayers must now envy residents of California who are receiving $1.050 rebates this month, while many here will see their state tax and fee bill increase well over $500 next year.  (Washington Research Council, KING5 News, and ABC30 News)

The Washington State Supreme Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit on whether or not Governor Inslee abused his emergency powers during the COVID pandemic. The lawsuit was brought by the Washington Business Properties Association and contends that the governor’s nearly 1,000-day use of emergency powers violates the taking clause in the state constitution, interferes with the judiciary branch and rights to petition for redress of grievances, and created a separation of powers issue. The WBPA is specifically concerned that the governor’s orders negatively impacted property owners and forced them to provide free housing without getting compensated. This is the last remaining lawsuit challenging the governor’s use of emergency powers.  (Washington Business Properties Association media release)

The Seattle Times has endorsed the candidacy of Republican 45^th Legislative District Senate candidate Ryika Hooshangi over incumbent Democrat Senator Manka Dhingra, as the newspaper shockingly admits (finally!) that many Democrats who represent suburban districts are not only too extreme for their constituents, but they are also too extreme for the state.  In making its choice for Hooshangi, the Times said that far-Left Senator Dhingra “is tilting beyond where her district and, even much of her caucus, is on criminal justice issues.” Senator Dhingra strongly supported the Democrats’ 2021 anti-police legislation and was one of the Senate Democrats who refused during the 2022 session to  correct the state’s disastrous anti-pursuit restrictions, which many local officials and nearly all police departments are blaming for the increase in criminals fleeing police custody.

Hooshangi (who was one of Shift’s first interviews in  our legislative candidate interviews series) is a local attorney, PTSA President, water commissioner, and mother of two school-aged children. Her campaign is based on the theme of “we need real solutions to our problems, not extreme personal agendas.” The Times editorial describes Hooshangi as “skeptical about new taxes and would have used the huge budget surplus to return some money to Washingtonians or offer more tax relief, not spend most of it as Democrats did.” (Seattle Times and Shift Newsmaker Interview)

There will be a debate between State Senate candidates in the 47^th Legislative District next Monday evening (October 24), between Republican Bill Boyce and Democrat Claudia Kauffman as they seek to replace Democrat Mona Das.  The event will take place at the Renton Life of Victory Church (17418 108^th Avenue SE) and is scheduled to run from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.  The event is free for the public to attend.  Boyce is currently the Kent City Council President and is a leading contender for switching one of the four senate seats currently held by the Democrats the Republicans need to take control of the body. By the way, it is good to see a Democrat candidate agree to a debate, something many Democrats, at all levels of government, seem to be avoiding.  (Carmen Goers’ Facebook post and Shift’s Newsmaker interview with Bill Boyce)

The Pasco Police Chief came out strongly against the city lifting its ban on marijuana sales and stated that doing so would be irresponsible and harmful to young people.  Chief Ken Roske was requested by city councilmembers for his views as they consider lifting the ban.  The chief stated that not only was he concerned about how marijuana sales impact young people, but also its influence on crime. “Increased crime associated with retail sales would add to the challenges the police department is already facing. Failing to address corrections to the Blake decision is hampering law enforcement efforts to mitigate the harmful effects of drugs in our communities. Opening more access to marijuana sales will only add to the critical drug use we see today.” (YakTriNews)

Small businesses in North Spokane County are seeing firsthand an increase in crime in their neighborhoods.  Small retailers have been vandalized and have been burglarized at an increasing rate as the Democrats’ anti-police policies have made our state a more comfortable place to be a criminal and a less welcoming place to own a retail business.  One candy shop owner said that it is not only the financial costs of the crime, but also losing time spent with their family by talking to the police, insurance companies, and contractors after the break-in. (KREM News)

Washington State University announced it will be lifting its vaccine mandate for most employees, contractors, and volunteers.  The removal of the ban will coincide with Governor Inslee finally ending his abuse of emergency powers on October 31^st. Students on campus though will still be required to be vaccinated through the end of the school year next spring, because, well, they can do that. (KXLY News)

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