As we commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day, we provide you with two perspectives on how to protect the earth.

First, we have your typical liberal perspective from the Climate Alliance., This group of lefties proposes even more of their failed, big-government environmental policies which have caused state and local agencies to spend millions in taxpayer dollars, yet which do little to actually improve our environment.  Maybe the reason why such policies fail is these are not really environmental actions, but are just bigger government social policies. In its Earth Day email, the Climate Alliance uses the COVID-19 outbreak to push its social agenda, stating “Our efforts to tackle these crises must prioritize the health and safety of our frontline communities, implementing public interventions (i.e. government control) that lift up those who are most impacted (i.e. raising taxes to give other people money) and are rooted in racial and economic justice.” (Climate Alliance email)

Second, we provide the perspective from the Washington Policy Center, which promotes innovation and utilizing the free market to improve the environment. In an article that was written for 2019 Earth Day, Todd Myers provides four efficient ways conservatives can effectively improve our environment. They include buying a “smart thermostat” and purchasing renewable energy credits. (Washington Policy Center)

Governor Inslee talked, a lot, but provided no specifics about when he will lift restrictions on commerce and public activities during a televised address last night.  Prior to the speech, there was much anticipation that the governor would release his plan on when and how Washington residents could return to work. Since the speech there has been extraordinarily little coverage of the governor’s comments. (maybe because he said very little beyond sports clichés)Inslee has said that he will use “science” to make these important decisions, yet many people are skeptical of the “science” the Governor has used that allows workers on government construction sites to collect paychecks, while those who do the same exact same work for private firms are collecting unemployment. (The Olympian)

Republican House Leader JT Wilcox was critical of Governor Inslee’s address, stating Inslee “missed a critical opportunity to explain what metrics and forecasts he’s using and to address the obvious unfair and ineffective parts of his original Stay Home order.” Wilcox was concerned about the possibility that “more people (will) lose confidence in his orders and at the same time suffer an economic crisis.” Wilcox said it is now time for the governor to include legislators in his decision-making process. (Wilcox Facebook post)

State corrections inmates are starting to be released back into the communities where they committed their crimes.  Governor Inslee will be freeing over 1,000 inmates, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the state’s prisons, but apparently without following the law about informing victims of such releases. (Everett Herald)

Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction Maia Espinoza will be holding a public virtual meeting this Saturday morning at 8:30 AM.  Espinoza, who was Shift’s Newsmaker Interview last week, will outline her vision for Washington schools.  Espinoza has called Washington State’s preparedness to “remotely” instruct students during the COVID-19 outbreak “an embarrassment.”  Click here to participate in the meeting (meeting 950 5616 6148 and password 453020) on Saturday morning. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. (Meeting link and Shift Newsmaker Interview)

The Washington Policy Center will be holding a virtual Earth Day event this evening at 7:00 PM. The event is sponsored by WPC’s Young Professionals and is open to all ages. The 90-minute program will feature the co-founder of Plastic Bank Shaun Frankson, Washington Policy Center’s Environmental Director and acclaimed author Todd Myers, and President of the American Conservation Coalition Benji Backer.  The event is free (you can donate $5 to Plastic Bank). Register by clicking here. (Washington Policy Center)

The governor’s stubborn (and “non-scientific”) refusal to allow residential construction is helping to create a shortage of paper towels and toilet paper. Due to the home building ban, less lumber is being used. Household paper products are made with the residue from sawing logs into lumber. Less lumber being produced means there is less material to make the paper products we use every day. Thanks, Jay! (Sponsored article in the Peninsula Daily News)

The President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of King County has asked Governor Inslee to allow retail outlets to re-open, while following the same safety rules currently employed at grocery stores, banks, and marijuana shops.  Mike Sotelo said in an Everett Herald op-ed that small businesses do not want more government handouts, but instead believe the best help would be for Governor Inslee to end his ban on retail and office activities. (Everett Herald)

Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler was fined by the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) for illegally transferring campaign funds to another candidate.  The PDC fined Kreidler $150 for sending an illegal $500 contribution to Denny Heck’s 2018 congressional re-election campaign. It is surprising that a politician who has spent nearly all of the past 44 years in elected office did not know about a basic campaign finance law that has been in place since last century. (We The Governed)

After watching Governor Inslee’s address Tuesday evening, Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney expressed his frustrations with the lack of plan to re-open the state. Fortney stated, “He (Inslee) has no details. This simply is not good enough in times when we have taken such drastic measures as the suspension of constitutional rights.”  The top law official for the state’s third-largest county has proclaimed that he will not enforce Inslee’s stay-at-home measures, which Fortney believes have infringed on the rights of U.S. citizens. (Everett Herald)

The City of Kelso has joined the growing list of communities and organizations asking Governor Inslee to allow commercial and residential construction projects to resume.  The governor has turned a deaf ear to constituents throughout the state asking him to treat private construction projects the same as government-financed developments.  Local governments across Washington are genuinely concerned that the ban on residential construction will only increase the already high cost of housing in their jurisdictions. (The Daily News)

King County Executive Dow Constantine ordered the county’s criminal justice system to reduce its population by 30% to reduce the spread the coronavirus within county corrections facilities.  Thus far the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention has reduced its population of 1,900 inmates by 600. Wonder if Dow is putting up the early-release crowd in his neighborhood? (Bellevue Reporter)

Seattle Times columnist Denny Westneat criticized the Seattle School Board’s decision to hand out straight A’s to all Seattle students during the COVID-19 crisis as being “the most Seattle thing ever.”  Seattle Superintendent Denise Juneau (whose lack of leadership made the state’s largest school district one of the least prepared in the country to teach students remotely), stated the reason for rewarding all students with A’s is because, “Grading has historically rewarded those students who experience privilege, and penalized others.”  She could have more honestly said that “grading has historically rewarded those students who study, and penalized others who didn’t.” Westneat suggested giving students a “Pass” grade, which would neither reward nor punish students during the coronavirus outbreak. (Seattle Times)

Central Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse joined the chorus of disappointment following Governor Inslee’s latest speech. The Congressman said, “Washingtonians don’t need broad philosophies or vague ideas right now – we need a concrete plan. As of now, it is clear Governor Inslee has not developed one. The lack of clarity erodes the hope of our citizens, and it threatens the trust and confidence needed in our state government.” (Newhouse Press Release)

Chelan and Douglas county commissioners, after being threatened by Governor Inslee’s office, rescinded their ordinances which allowed home construction to continue.  Both counties are allowing construction to continue while workers seal off the construction sites. Chelan gave contractors until April 27^th to finish their work, while Douglas imposed a deadline of noon today.  The Chelan County Commissioners sent a letter to Governor Inslee with specific questions about the Governor’s stay-at-home proclamation. The Governor’s office has yet to respond to the county, because, why should he? (iFIBER One)

Farmers’ markets in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland will open and operate under normal schedules during the summer.  Farmers’ markets are considered “essential” under Governor Inslee’s stay-at-home orders, yet all will be making changes to incorporate health and safety measures. (YakTriNews)

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