Trying to make culverts interesting is no easy task, but a team of reporters and graphic artists at the Seattle Times spent a lot of space trying on Sunday, highlighting the billions of dollars the state is spending to save salmon by removing culverts. What they found was how hard it would be for a single dollar spent by the state to actually survive its bureaucratic journey in the name of helping salmon, with one city official noting “(D)oes the public know we’re spending billions on culverts that fish won’t be able to reach? I don’t think so.”

Of course, Governor Jay Inslee’s crack team at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) doesn’t worry about results as much as it does avoiding blame. That’s why Gov. Inslee claims, after a decade of his mismanagement, that “(I)f you want to criticize the prioritization of these investments, you need to focus your criticism on the federal judicial system — not the state.”

To make their failures look more impressive, his own transportation director compares the task of spending money on road repairs to the “equivalent of a moonshot.” And the man who wants to serve Jay Inslee’s 4^th term proudly stood behind staff with his lips sealed, as Attorney General Bob Ferguson “declined an interview request ‘due to ethical and legal reasons’,” even though everyone knows that “political reasons” are the only ones motivating the AG these days… Seattle Times.

King County Executive Dow Constantine enjoys ruling his fiefdom with an iron fist, and the opportunity to show his power by making his underlings do his questionable bidding. That’s basically the story from Jason Rantz at KTTH – building on the Burien homelessness story which Shift has long covered – after it came to light that Executive Constantine’s “appointed King County sheriff instructed her deputies to ignore an updated Burien ordinance that prohibits a homeless encampment within 500 feet of locations with vulnerable populations, such as schools and parks.”

It seems that tucked into Friday’s late news was the surprise from the county that its deputies would not perform the law enforcement tasks they were contracted to perform in the city of Burien, all because the King County Executive doesn’t like the homelessness ban passed by the city. Read on to see whether you agree with the city’s mayor that “(R)ight now, the Dow Constantine appointed sheriff is prioritizing politics over public safety.”… Shift, KTTH.

The Columbian takes note of a new item on Northwest Natural’s energy charges in Clark County – a new fee connected to Governor Jay Inslee’s carbon tax.  Read on for how much the average SW Washington ratepayer will get to contribute to Gov. Inslee’s special interest campaign donors who are getting all that carbon tax money.  The Columbian.

You can’t blame Republicans West of the Cascades for looking a bit enviously to the East when it comes to competitive congressional races. That’s where the Spokesman-Review has the story of seven very different “Republicans hoping to win a coveted seat representing Eastern Washington in Congress (who) have begun making early pitches to their base, trying to distinguish themselves.”

Spokane is the population center of the district, which has been represented by Cathy McMorris Rodgers for the last 20 years. The paper caught up with the candidates along with “hundreds gathered for the Spokane County Republican Party Convention” on Saturday. You can read on to see the contrast that the next 5^th District Member of Congress will bring from the retiring incumbent here… Spokesman-Review.

Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R-Yelm) recently announced his retirement, and will conclude a dedicated 14-year tenure in the State House of Representatives next January. During his memorable service, he was the Republican Floor Leader for six years, followed by five years as the House Republican Leader. Rep. Wilcox’s principled leadership will be greatly missed.

Given Rep. Wilcox’s impact on our state and his upcoming departure from the State Legislature, we are pleased to bring you an interview he did last week with Washington House Republican Radio.

Listen to the full interview here.

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