Shift is publishing before the Democrats finish inflicting their damage on the people during the 2024 legislative session, but a few storm clouds are present on the horizon.  At least that’s what we learn from the Washington State Standard, as “(L)awmakers are turning their attention in the final hours of the 2024 session to money. More specifically, exactly how they want to spend lots of additional dollars in the second half of the state’s two-year budgeting cycle.”

It’s worth remembering that any budget fight this year is about how to spend the record amount of money that Washington taxpayers are sending into the state. As the Washington State Standard points out, “A year ago, the Legislature approved a $69.8 billion operating budget … Wednesday, House and Senate budget writers revealed their deal to spend another $2.1 billion in the next 16 months.”

You can read on to see how another $2 billion is hardly enough for the Democrats to waste here… Washington State Standard.

Session is winding down, so Shift will take a few items on today in quick fashion. One is what the Center Square described as “the ‘natural gas ban bill’ and a ‘hot mess’ by Lt. Gov. Denny Heck last week, (which) passed the Washington State Legislature early Wednesday morning. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1589 would allow utilities – that is, Puget Sound Energy – to start planning how to move away from natural gas.”

This is the bill the Democrats demand you not call a natural gas ban, as it leads to a ban on natural gas. That’s because “it will lead to the banning of natural gas, forcing residents to pay exorbitant costs to convert to electricity.” Read on for more inconvenient facts for the Democrats here… Center Square.

In a case that can only be seen as childish retribution, KIRO Newsradio reports that Washington Democrats included a “provision in a controversial bill authorizing the use of automated speed cameras (which) subjects police cars to speeding tickets, even if they are responding to an emergency.”

And just in case you were wondering, this was not an accident, as the ”original version of Liias’ rewrite said speeding infractions could be issued to any type of law enforcement vehicle, fire engine, or ambulance. Fire engines and ambulances were removed from the final rewrite, but law enforcement vehicles responding with lights and sirens can still be ticketed.” Read on to how the Democrats want to punish police for not toeing the party line here… KIRO Newsradio.

Shift will leave this with little note other than to suggest that a major Boeing strike is one that Democrats in Washington state would not welcome during a political campaign since it would demonstrate their allegiance to unions, not people. Leave it to Reuters to write that “Boeing and its largest union open talks on Friday seeking the first new contract in 16 years as the U.S. planemaker grapples with its ongoing 737 MAX safety crisis and after big gains by workers in other sectors of the economy.”

This wage envy is obvious as the “International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents over 30,000 Washington state workers building Boeing’s 737 MAX jets, wants better retirement benefits and wage increases exceeding 40% over three to four years after what it termed years of stagnant earnings. ‘We have a lot to make up for,’ said Jon Holden, president of the IAM’s Seattle-area workers.” … Reuters.