Shift’s Weekly Photograph from our Friend Rod Chandler
Shift Wire
As liberals continue to push extreme measures throughout Washington State, many young people are starting to revolt. They understand that the more powerful government advocated by Democrats will erode the freedoms our country was founded on. The result is more young people are looking to conservatives for answers. To reflect the growing audience for conservative values among young people, Shift will be running more articles from younger authors. (Shift)
Newsmaker Interview
In case you missed last Friday’s Newsmaker Interview, Shift spoke with Jami Lund who is at the center of the fight over the growing influence of government unions’ money in Washington State politics. Lund is not only active in the Freedom Foundation’s efforts to inform union workers of their rights to not pay dues, but he was also the target of the WEA’s vindictive actions to spend more than $90,000 to buy one seat on the Centralia School Board. (Shift)
Governor Zero
Governor Jay Inslee continues to whine that the Democrat presidential candidates are not doing what he wants them to do. Inslee focused his failed presidential campaign on climate change. After spending $7 million dollars in five months, Inslee’s support dropped from 1% to 0% (thus the moniker “Governor Zero”). Since then, Inslee has been whining from the sidelines that those still in the race don’t talk about his issue (or him). Like clockwork, after every Democrat presidential debate, Inslee whines. He complains about the Democrat party leadership, the Democrat candidates, and the liberal media for not focusing on climate change. After last week’s debate, Inslee complained about the moderators. Maybe if Inslee’s environmental record didn’t include an increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the state he has “led” for seven years and a dramatic failure to meet climate goals, people might take his whining more seriously. (Inslee campaign email and Shift)
Even though Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) never endorsed Governor Inslee for President, she is willing to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders before the first primary. Apparently Jayapal does not believe Senator Elizabeth Warren’s claims that Sanders told her that a woman cannot win the 2020 presidential election. (Seattle Times)
State
Representative Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver) wants the state to dictate whether a company hires someone with a substance abuse problem. In HB 2740, Stonier wants to deny businesses the ability to screen applicants for marijuana consumption. This follows a previous Stonier bill in which she wanted the state to dictate how restaurants list items on their menus and decide for parents what their children should drink. (Washington Legislature Bill Summery)
Democrats continue to encourage a negative business climate with their latest bill to increase labor costs. SB 6516 would force businesses to pay overtime wage for anyone working more than 32 hours in a week. The bill was sponsored by Senator Joe Nguyen (D-Seattle), Senator Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle), Senator Rebecca Saldana (D-Seattle), and Senator Derek Stanford (D-Bothell). We are sure the many of the hi-tech businesses located in Stanford’s suburban district will want to know their senator wants to make it more difficult for them to compete with those without government mandated labor cost increases. (Washington Legislature Bill Summary)
Even though it is costing jobs for union workers, organized labor is gloating over Democrats shutting down transportation projects due to I-976. While commenting on the fact Governor Inslee has shut down the Pasco Tunnel project, labor’s “The Stand” publication jokes about this being the “natural consequences” of Benton County voting 72% for I-976. Guess it is easier to be snarky than to fight for workers’ jobs. (The Stand)
Following up on his previous statements, Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) has proposed legislation to study breeching the Ballard Locks and tearing down the dams that supply Seattle with power. While Seattle activists continue to impose their radical environmental beliefs on the rest of the state, SB 6380 would study imposing the same measures on King County residents. As Ericksen said in his press release, the bill would “enable Seattle to go first and lead by example.” (KEPR)
There are over a dozen gun related bills before the Democrat controlled legislature during the 2020 session. Bills include banning “assault” weapons, limiting size of ammunition magazines, instituting a centralized background check system, and creating a new state office named the Washington Office of Firearm Violence Prevention. Liberals never miss the chance to try and create new government bureaucracies, filled with employees providing dues money that will be used to support liberal campaigns and organizations. (Q13)
Western Washington
In seeking to increase the number of housing units, the City of Puyallup has reduced fees and eased restrictions on “additional dwelling units” (ADUs). These moves are expected to increase the number of basement apartments, tiny homes, “mother-in-law” apartments, and backyard cottages available in the community. The city had permitted only six ADUs since 2014. (News Tribune/Puyallup Herald)
Eastern Washington
After his failed bid to become Spokane’s mayor, former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart has opened a consulting business to lobby for special interest clients. Stuckart faced a few ethics complaints during his two terms as council president and as a candidate and is prohibited by City of Spokane ethics restrictions from lobbying his former colleagues on the council for one year. This might be temporary employment for Stuckart who says he has applied for three full-time positions. (Spokesman Review and Shift)
Overheard on the Internets
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