Nothing says “fiscally conservative” quite like jacking up the gas tax in the middle of an affordability crisis. Washington Democrats are pushing dueling transportation budgets—both relying on gas tax hikes, because apparently, that’s the only solution they can come up with. The Senate wants to bump it up 6 cents per gallon with automatic inflation increases, while the House—never one to be outdone in tax hikes—wants 9 cents plus inflation. Of course, both budgets also pile on other creative fees, like new electric vehicle charges, a luxury car tax, and even fees on stadium events. Because when in doubt, tax everything that moves. Even with these new revenue streams, the House budget still defers $1.3 billion in projects, proving that Democrats can’t even spend massive tax hikes efficiently. And the Senate? They’re throwing in unpaid furloughs for state workers, because why not? Meanwhile, they’re still pretending this is all “fiscally responsible.” If their definition of responsibility is bleeding taxpayers dry while still failing to finish road projects, they’re absolutely nailing it. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Democrats’ grand EV mandate is colliding with a little thing called reality—Washington isn’t even close to meeting its 35% EV sales requirement for next year. Right now, only about 21.7% of new cars are EVs or plug-in hybrids, meaning we’re on track to be about 29% short of the goal. But don’t worry, lawmakers’ solution isn’t to adjust their completely unrealistic mandates—it’s to let manufacturers buy credits or face massive penalties. Naturally, this will just jack up prices or push buyers to Idaho to escape the madness. Meanwhile, despite all their climate grandstanding, the biggest winner of Washington’s EV push is – ironically enough – Elon Musk, since nearly half of all EVs sold here are Teslas. So, while Democrats claim they’re saving the planet, they’re really just making it harder for working-class families to afford a car. But hey, at least Olympia gets to keep pretending their policies make sense. Read more at Washington Policy Center.

Washington Democrats are once again proving that they love big government—until it actually has to provide essential services. Their latest move? Forcing the closure of two residential habilitation centers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities without a real plan for where these residents will go. Republicans and families are rightly outraged, pointing out that without clear alternatives, this will literally endanger lives. But Democrats, citing an old Supreme Court ruling, insist that kicking vulnerable people out of their long-term homes is actually helping them—because surely, community-based care that doesn’t yet exist will magically appear. Opponents note that even employees at these schools admit they could be improved, but shutting them down without a plan is reckless and irresponsible. The bill passed along party lines, because of course it did—Democrats never let real-world consequences get in the way of their feel-good policies. If families are worried about their loved ones, too bad. The state has spoken: figure it out yourselves. Read more at Center Square.

Washington Democrats are once again trying to cut parents out of their kids’ lives, this time with SB 5181, which removes parental notification rights for medical services provided at school. Under current law, schools must inform parents when their child receives medical treatment, but Democrats want to scrap that requirement—letting schools arrange medical care without ever telling families. Supporters claim this protects kids, but we already have strong abuse laws and mandatory reporting—this bill just keeps parents in the dark. Research shows that strong parental involvement improves mental health and academic success, yet Democrats are pushing a policy that creates mistrust between families and educators. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

A Washington couple found themselves the target of public harassment after the assassination attempt on President Trump, simply because they donated to his campaign. Flyers were plastered around their neighborhood, listing their name and address, labeling them “proud Trump donors.” John, the husband, believes this was meant to incite anger or intimidation, not admiration. While political contributions are public record, doxxing private citizens for their beliefs is a dangerous escalation.

John doesn’t suspect his neighbors but outside activist groups, continuing the disturbing trend of harassment against conservatives. While he’s hopeful this won’t escalate, he and his wife remain on high alert. When political disagreements turn into intimidation tactics, it’s clear some activists don’t believe in democracy—only submission. Read more at KTTH.

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