This week’s Newsmaker Interview is with Senate Republican Caucus Chair Ann Rivers from La Center (Clark County).  The third term senator provides a direct response to Governor Jay Inslee’s recent action to move three counties back to Phase 2.  Senator Rivers contends the state is using meaningless data (and they keep moving the data “goal posts”), which could allow the governor’s use of emergency powers to “never end.”  Following this week’s release of the Washington State Auditor’s report on the management failures at Employment Security Department (which resulted in the loss of $1.1 billion), Senator Rivers stated, “accountability for the ESD debacle lies with Governor Inslee,” and that “nothing he does can ever remove that stain from his legacy.” (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

Not to be outdone by the Democrat senator from his legislative district, Representative Roger Goodman (D – Kirkland) has introduced legislation to legalize possessions of dangerous and highly addictive drugs in Washington State. The Eastside’s liberal legislator used the false excuse of “fixing” the controversial Washington State Supreme Court’s Blake decision (which threw out the state’s previous drug possession laws) to impose the Democrats’ long-standing wish of legalizing hard drugs like methamphetamine, acid, heroin, and cocaine.  Remember, in 2014, Goodman admitted his wife’s claim that he smoked marijuana while driving his kids was true. The parents in the 45^th Legislative District (Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, and Woodinville) must be proud that their senator and representative are so focused on making hard drugs legal. (Click to read full Shift article)

As expected, the Democrats in the House, including those from Pierce County, refused to discuss measures to moderately reform the governor’s never-ending one-man rule through emergency powers.  By a vote of 56-41, the House Democrats defeated an “8^th order motion” (which allows members to bring legislation to the full chamber even though it has yet to pass a committee) put forth by House Republican Leader JT Wilcox.  This is especially telling of the Pierce County Democrat legislators who just chose party loyalty over the needs of their constituents (who the governor just unilaterally moved back to Phase 2). This is also a dangerous and irresponsible precedent set by the Democrats.  We will have more on this in the coming days. (Olympia Watch Tweet)

A new report reveals that, while environmentalists focus on tearing down the four lower Snake River dams (where two of the three runs are presently at “recovering” or “near recovery” levels by government estimates), the Democrat-controlled legislature plans to spend a smaller percentage of the state’s budget on salmon recovery. The study from the Washington Policy Center reveals that the state spends 3.4% of its current capital budget on salmon recovery, while the current budget proposal by House Democrats spends just over 3.0% and the Senate Democrats’ spends only 3.3%.  While Governor Inslee and the environmental extremists continue to push for the economically devastating and ineffective Snake River dam removal (because “symbols” are more important than actual results), they also refuse to fund projects that actually achieve results.  The study also reveals that Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson’s $33 billion hastily drawn proposal to remove the dams (which, of course, Governor Inslee immediately supported) could pay for 308 years of statewide salmon recovery at the Senate Democrats proposed levels.  It is almost as if the Democrats don’t want to solve the salmon population problem. Democrats may prefer to keep the problem around to continue increasing the size and cost of state government. (Washington Policy Center, House Democrats’ Capital Budget proposal, Senate Democrats Capital Budget Proposal, and Tri-City Herald/MSN)

In typical Democrat fashion, legislators wasted considerable time holding hearings and passing meaningless legislation that sets the “target” for all new cars sold in Washington State by 2030 to be powered by electricity.  Since Washington State has no control over the types of cars built around the world or over the technology advancements which will occur during the next decade, this pointless act (HB 1287) will do nothing to help the environment. But it does allow Democrats to “virtual signal” to their environmental contributors that they support electric cars.  As opposed to the Democrats’ inefficient and costly Low Carbon Fuel Standard, at least this meaningless bill will not increase the cost of fuel by up to 63 cents a gallon and impact low-income families the most. Interestingly, the Democrats (who initially limited bill activities to budget measures and bills related to the COVID pandemic) found time to hold four separate hearings on this symbolic legislation. But they can’t find the time to discuss if a governor should hold endless emergency powers over the state without oversite from the legislature. (KNKX Public Radio and Washington Legislature Bill Summary)

Ultra-liberal State Senator Joe Nguyen (D – West Seattle) wants to stop police from pulling over drivers for expired tabs, broken headlights, too much tint on windows, and other “lesser” driving infractions.  Nguyen said he is currently working on legislation that he plans to introduce during the 2022 legislative session.  The senator did not provide suggestions for how the state would enforce laws against driving unsafe vehicles or for not paying license tab fees.  This leads us to ask if more people would have their license tabs if the Democrats had not overturned the voters’ demand to reduce them to $35 via Initiative 976? (KIRO TV and Secretary of State election results)

One pandemic-related law will stay on the books for at least two more years as legislation is passed to allow liquor license holders to continue selling “cocktails to go.”  The Washington Legislature passed HB  1040, which will allow curbside sales and delivery of mixed cocktails.  The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board requested the bill and received bi-partisan support.  When all else fails, it appears booze can bring divisive lawmakers together. (Seattle P-I and Washington Legislature Bill Summary)

Nearly six years after King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray declared an “emergency” on the regions’ homeless crisis, the new Regional Homeless Authority leader is already asking for more time to develop solutions to the tragic problem.  The Authority’s incoming CEO Marc Dones made this request before he officially starts his job next week.  Since elected leaders at both the City of Seattle and King County appear reluctant to reverse their commitment to failed liberal homeless and law enforcement policies, there is not much optimism that Dones and the growing bureaucracy will do much to solve the problem. (KOMO News)

The Seattle Times’ Jon Talton wrote about the less combative stance of the new Metropolitan Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Rachel Smith.  In an interview published last week, Smith said the Chamber has “put down our dukes” in fighting the anti-business actions of the radical Seattle City Council.  She says she hopes to work in collaboration with councilmembers on many social justice issues. Talton’s take on this reversal is that the Chamber hopes that this strategy will “open doors and minds at City Hall” and that it is playing “a long game until more pragmatic council members are elected.”  Talton did not provide any evidence of why he believes “more pragmatic council members” will be elected sometime soon. (Seattle Times)

After the four partisan members of the Spokane County Redistricting Commission were deadlock in who will be its fifth non-voting member (who will serve as chairperson), the decision will be made by the current Spokane County Council. There are currently two Republicans and two Democrats on the commission that will draw the boundaries for the new county district seats.  Both sides nominated two individuals, and none of the four candidates received the three votes necessary to win.  The Republican members had nominated former U.S. Attorney Bill Hyslop, but both Democrat members voted against his selection.  Yet, many believe the Republican-controlled county council will likely select Hyslop as their choice. (Spokesman-Review)

BabylonBee Friday

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