The head of the Washington State Department of Transportation, Roger Millar, says congestion “is a problem we simply cannot solve.” But then, you probably already guessed that WSDOT’s leadership thinks like this. Millar told a conference of transportation officials that building more highways to solve congestion “isn’t the answer.” (The Spokesman-Review)

Republican Senators Steve O’Ban and Mike Padden submitted an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought against Sound Transit. The plaintiffs in the case, Black v. Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, contend Sound Transit has been unconstitutionally overcharging taxpayers. “Legislators and voters across Puget Sound are angered by the misleading way in which Sound Transit jacked up their car-tab fees,” O’Ban said. (Sen. Steve O’Ban)

The Freedom Foundation uncovered documents showing how SEIU 775 harassed caregivers for Medicaid recipients into signing up for union memberships. The Freedom Foundation has chronicled the long history of SEIU’s actions to coerce and deceive individual providers into signing union membership forms authorizing the state to withhold 3.2 percent of their wages for SEIU 775 dues. (Freedom Foundation)

Dori Monson argues Seattle’s new bill of rights for domestic workers isn’t about helping the nannies, or the residents, but about shuffling more money toward unions and government. “It’s all about power, money, and control, and everyone else loses. The nanny gets virtually nothing extra, and the family has to pay $3,000 more a year in childcare costs,” he wrote. (My Northwest)

The 24/7 House of Charity homeless shelter will cut hours and reduce capacity, the City of Spokane and Catholic Charities announced. “The unfortunate piece here is, what we’ve learned over the last 20-ish months of doing this, is that our current scenario, House of Charity, is just not a safe and dignified solution,” Dawn Kinder, the city’s director of neighborhood and business services said. Spokane will invest in more emergency shelter capacity, and the city and charity are working to open a new shelter next July. (The Spokesman-Review)

Do you like The Morning Briefing? Forward this to a friend! It helps us grow our community and serve you better.

If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].

If you don’t want to receive this email each morning, click here to opt-out of The Morning Briefing.