Jay Inslee volunteers for big labor coalition

Ever one to support the special interests who support him (with campaign cash), Jay Inslee last Thursday working (quite literally) for big labor. He volunteered for labor front-group Raise Up Washington in Westlake Park collecting signatures in an attempt to qualify Initiative 1433 for the November ballot.

How Inslee chose to spend the afternoon is a pretty big deal because, well, as Shift has repeatedly pointed out, it’s pretty hard to get our green governor to show up for work.

As Shift reported, Raise Up Washington is a union-backed coalition that is pushing the job-killing initiative. If supporters manage to qualify I-1433 for the November ballot (by gathering 250,000 valid signatures by July) and voters approve the measure, the initiative would raise the statewide minimum wage – which has long been among the nation’s highest, since the last time unions an an initiative to increase it – to $13.50 per hour and require employers to provide up to seven days of paid sick leave per year.

When Inslee was challenged about how the initiative would impact small-businesses, Inslee argued I-1433 would be good for them. Only, that’s not true… according to small business owners. Via the Daily News:

“Jarrett Skreen, owner of Ashtown Brewing in Longview, said he likely would scale back workers’ hours.

“‘We’ll do the same amount of work, but with fewer employees,’ he said. ‘As small businesses, we operate pretty darn lean.’ …

“But Lynn Brewer, owner of Lynn’s Ice Cream, Yogurt & More, worried it would encourage employees to unnecessarily call in sick.

“‘I think you’re going to see a lot of independent businesses like me going out of business,’ she said.”

Of course, Inslee doesn’t really care about supporting the wellbeing of small businesses. He only really cares about furthering special interests.

Because that’s where the campaign is for him.