One of the outcomes of last Friday’s decision by the Washington State Supreme Court to ignore the plain words of the state’s constitution on the illegality of a progressive income tax was to bring down national attention on the strangeness of the decision and what might come next. The state’s foremost expert on the Democrat lust for a state income tax, the Washington Policy Center’s Jason Mercier, was featured in Forbes, pointing out that “(w)ith this ruling, the rules surrounding income taxes in Washington are now unclear. What will be the next type of income tax to be redefined by lawmakers?”

And that really was the point of this whole exercise for the Democrats, to get a case before this court of nine liberal justices so that doors would be opened to more ways to tax individuals and businesses who claim the privilege of being in Washington State. The celebrating by Governor Jay Inslee that he had finally slayed the dragon opposing a state income tax – “It is gratifying as governor to join so many Washingtonians in this historic victory today, one that has been elusive in the face of years of opposition from powerful interests” – was truly ironic. Given the “powerful interests” overcame were the people of Washington State, who have voted ten consecutive times against the state income tax Jay Inslee is so proud of now. And the governor also said the quiet part out loud – the Democrats have been fighting for a state income tax “in the face of years of opposition,” and that – not a bogus excise tax – is what the Supremes gave them.

And if the voters forget the part of the constitution violated by seven justices of the current court, here are the words from a dissenting justice who actually read the law: “A tax is determined by its incidents, not by its legislative label. The structure of the capital gains tax shows that it is a tax on income resulting from certain transactions—not a tax on a transaction per se. Therefore, the tax is an income tax, not an excise tax.” Perhaps voters will remember the Democrats’ victory over the voters’ own selfishness in the next elections. (Forbes.com)

Much has been written – and more will be – on the record-breaking budgets ($70 billion, give or take some change) proposed by the Democrats in Olympia this session. Governor Jay Inslee went first because, by law, he had to last December, with the State Senate following last week and the State House coming in last. Unfortunately, the House Democrats proved they deserved the least amount of time before the public, as their budget is the worst. It not only commits state funds to billions in future interest payments to fund Inslee’s vanity-project homelessness bonds (which the Senate did not), it also started wasting the majority of the state’s cap-and-tax revenue on growing the size of state government, which even Inslee did not do to allegedly protect the environment.

However, at least State Representative Drew Stokesbary, the House Republicans’ lead on budget matters, injected some sanity into the discussion, telling KING 5 that “I’m kind of troubled by how much more this proposal would spend” and on the homeless boondoggle, he pointed “If we are going to be as bold as the governor wants, I think we need better ideas than the governor has.” (KING 5)

Lynnwood is about to find out how hard it is to remove a delusional city council member, as the Lynnwood Times reported that “(r)esident after resident approached the podium at Monday’s city council meeting requesting that Councilmember Josh Binda resign following sexually suggestive pictures of him discovered on his political Instagram account, cmjoshbinda, to promote his “Love Conquers All” tour to middle and high school students. ‘Is sexual marketing to inspire kids as a city councilman acceptable to this chamber?’”

What may make this a drawn-out affair is that the politician in question has delusions of grandeur, considering himself a “transformative leader,” who explained away his soft-porn approach to representation by denying “that he directed anyone to tattoo their body with his name and for his defense said, ‘it’s a generational thing’ that is being ‘misinterpreted.’” Further, he told the council via Zoom that “I fully am a positive role model to youth and continue doing work being a positive role model.” Among the “work” he is doing is being banned from using the city’s computer system or even having access to the council’s building revoked. He also has been found guilty of campaign finance misconduct and is awaiting word on the allegations he used city resources to promote his personal business ventures. Very transformative indeed. (Lynnwood Times)

What could say more about the current state of quality liberal governance in the city of Seattle than to read this Seattle Times story on the need for the city to start studying the effects of second-hand fentanyl smoke on the drivers of the city’s buses. Or maybe, just maybe, start charging people to ride the bus to eliminate those looking for a rolling drug den and kick them off if they are smoking anything. (Seattle Times)

Once more, why are Democrats fighting so hard not to do the right thing? Stopping car thieves, and the carnage that crime-fleeing suspects can wreak, should be an easy call. Instead, a mother who lost her daughter has to use letters to the editor and advertisements to maybe get the attention of the liberals. (Lynnwood Times)

Liberals’ true environmental priority – more government, less money for you

Democrats to voters: Reserves, we don’t need no stinkin’ reserves

Speaker Laurie Jinkins tells Democrats to hide – from constituents

In yet another display of how out of touch legislative Democrats are on the issue of crime, HB 1189 aims to let felons out of prison early and is heading towards another committee stop in the opposite chamber, after sailing through the House and then Senator Manka Dhingra’s laughably named, pro-criminal Law & Justice committee. As reported by MyNorthwest, “It aims to dismantle and rebuild the Clemency and Pardons Board (CPB). Then, using new rules for conditional commutations, the bill allows the newly formed CPB to give early release to dangerous felons who haven’t finished their sentences. (Sponsor David Hackney) claims they are victims of ‘racism’ and “’poverty.’” The priority given this piece of legislation shows you what Democrats think a top public safety problem is today – criminals are just not getting out of jail quickly enough. (MyNorthwest)

To get early insight into what might make Shift’s next Daily Briefing worth reading, tune in to 570 KVI on your AM dial weekday mornings at 8:05, to hear John Carlson talk Washington State legislative politics with Shift co-founder Randy Pepple. And you can always stay for the rest of the Commute with Carlson by tuning in here.

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