Liberal Lie #7: Jay Inslee and the Democrats want to negotiate with Republicans

Washington State Democrats say they want to work with Republicans and “negotiate in good faith” (the governor’s words) with them to solve problems. It’s the sort of thing that newspaper editorial boards like to hear, but is it true?

Consider what Inslee announced in his State of the State speech on Tuesday. If he really wants to negotiate in good faith, why did he:

• Without warning, spring a new tax hike proposal on legislators during his speech, while conveniently leaving out which taxes he intends to raise?
• Justify his request by saying a recent report from the Supreme Court regarding the McCleary education funding case impelled action, but then fund programs that have nothing to do with McCleary?
• Announce in his speech that he wants to give teachers a pay raise, when he didn’t include it in his budget proposal that he released just a month ago?
• Spring on legislators a proposal to raise the minimum wage, which is already the nation’s highest, but not say how much?

On environmental issues and a transportation package, Inslee also talked in December of wanting to work with Republicans. In fact, he’s said he’s just looking for “a Teddy Roosevelt” in the party to step up and work with him on pollution while expressing optimism that a transportation package can still come together this year.

But if that’s true, why won’t he say whether or not he will use an executive order to unilaterally adopt a Low Carbon Fuel Standard in Washington, a tax which would raise gas prices by a dollar per gallon? Being coy about this will end any chance of getting a transportation package through the Legislature this year, which Inslee says is one of his top goals.

Those aren’t the actions of a man – or a party – who wants to negotiate in good faith, they are the actions of a politician who is trying to set up as many conflicts as possible heading into this fall’s elections. Jay Inslee doesn’t want to negotiate with Republican legislators, he wants to get rid of them with the help of his California billionaire friend Tom Steyer.

That’s why he says he wants to negotiate, while doing all he can to make sure that doesn’t happen. More politics as usual – disguised by liberal lie #7.