Predictably, Governor Inslee’s climate predictions made 14 years ago are not even close to being correct.
Newsmaker Interview
Shift’s Newsmaker Interview is with Republican legislative candidate Tawsha Dykstra Thompson, a recently retired Bellingham police officer who is running against first-term Democrat Representative Alicia Rule in the 42nd Legislative District (Whatcom County). Tawsha Thompson and her husband Jay, a Whatcom County Sherriff’s deputy, made news last February when he was one of two officers shot while responding to a neighborhood disturbance. Thompson’s experiences during the ordeal were told in this local media story. From our interview, it is obvious that Thompson is not only extremely knowledgeable about the Democrats’ disastrous police reform bill (“The liberal majority in Olympia does not want to hold criminals accountable”), but knows far more about most of the issues than many of the legislature’s long-time incumbents. Thompson shares her thoughts about her husband’s recovery, public safety, the Long-Term Care payroll tax, the state income tax on capital gains, the recent floods in Northwest Washington, and on the failure of the Democrats to help low- and middle income households with any type of tax relief (gas, sales, or property). (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)
State
To mark Earth Day, Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center decided to check the predictions made by Governor Jay Inslee in the 2008 book he allegedly co-authored, Apollo’s Fire. At the time of the book’s publication, Inslee was an irrelevant backbench congressman who suddenly saw his claim to fame by becoming the next Al Gore. The hardcover edition sold very poorly. Full boxes of the books can still be found collecting dust in used bookstore warehouses.
Myers provides a compelling reason for examining the predictions made by the governor, given that nearly all of the very expensive environmental programs passed by liberal politicians are based on what they believe will take place in the future. Not surprisingly, the predictions by then-Congressman Inslee have not aged well since they were made 14 years ago.
The list of his inaccuracies is extensive. Consider that Inslee predicted that mass transit ridership would double in 20 years. Since 2008, it has actually gone down. He stated there would be a terawatt of solar energy by 2025, a massive increase in its adoption. Currently there is only 14% of this amount of solar energy being produced. Washington’s future governor asserted that 25% of fuel being used would be biofuels. Last report in 2020 is that biofuels make up only 11.7% of the current energy portfolio. Inslee claimed in 2008 that “meaningful amounts of cellulosic ethanol will be available by 2011.” Currently cellulosic ethanol accounts for less than 4% of biofuels. Finally, Jay Inslee predicted in 2008 that most of the electricity powering electric cars will be generated by old-fashioned coal plants. Today coal provides just 19.3% of the electricity. As Myers says at the end of his article, the failed predictions of elected officials are “ultimately paid by Washington residents, forests, salmon, wildlife, and the rest of the environment that continues to be harmed as politicians waste money believing in their own infallibility.” (Washington Policy Center)
KIRO Radio host Dori Monson interviewed a former Washington State Department of Corrections’ guard who says that 150 biologically male inmates are currently seeking transfers to women’s facilities stating they are transgendered. Their reason for doing this is because they believe it is “significantly easier” to serve time living amongst an all-woman population. According to the guard, there are no other conditions or requirements to make this request other than to identify themselves as transgendered and get a psychologist to agree. (MyNorthwest)
Western Washington
U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers encouraged President Joe Biden to see for himself some of the damage that has been created by liberal policies when he visits Seattle. The congresswoman from Eastern Washington said he should see for himself on Earth Day the environmental damage the Democrats and liberal Seattle politicians have allowed to take place by continuing dump sewage into Puget Sound. While Governor Inslee makes scientifically false claims that the population reduction of Chinook salmon in Puget Sound is the fault of the far-off Snake River dams (which NOAA scientists assert is not true), 58 sewage treatment plants continue to dump toxins into the sound. Representative McMorris Rodgers also said the president should see the “inhuman living conditions” of the hundreds of homeless encampments in Seattle. (Is it noteworthy or ironic to mention that since it was announced the president was coming to Seattle that city crews have been working to (temporarily?) remove many encampments along the motorcade’s possible routes.) (CenterSquare)
The Seattle Times welcomed President Joe Biden today by posting the syndicated article by 78-year-old columnist Charles Kraus featuring the novel claim that older politicians should know when to leave (hint, hint). This has significance here in Washington State due to recent stories about the 78-year-old Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and the possible cognitive problems of our 71-year-old governor, who claimed “It’s news to me” when asked about his thoughts on the news of liberal rioters violently taking over a neighborhood on Seattle’s Capitol Hill during the summer of 2020. Kraus says it is no problem for some seniors to perform their jobs, but that is not true for those who are in top political jobs, with multitude of considerations and important demands. (Seattle Times, Northwest News Network, and Rebecca Perry Twitter)
Eastern Washington
Democrat Senate Leader Andy Billig asked a Spokane area business group to stop sending his office emails and his response to the media about this exchange is different than the one from the group. Senator Billig’s 3rd Legislative District encompasses much of Spokane. He is the only Democrat senator on the East side of the Cascade Mountains.
Shift reported earlier this week on terse exchange between Senator Billig and the moderator of a virtual public hearing held by the Spokane Business & Commercial Property Owners Council (SBCPOC) last Friday. The hearing dealt with crime, and members were upset that Senator Billig refused to bring to the Senate floor a bill which would have allowed police officers to pursue suspected criminals. Senator Billig said he didn’t allow a vote on the measure because a majority of his caucus would not support it. This led the moderator to ask the senator, “Do you represent us, or do you represent the west side?”
The following Monday morning, Billig’s office sent the group an email telling them not to send his office anymore emails. When Senator Billig was asked why he cut off communications with the business group, he said ethics lawyers told him to do so since the group was too political and that he told the group to send communications to either his personal or campaign email account. The SBCPOC said they were not given those email addresses by Senator Billig’s staff, but found them on their own since they believe the senator should be informed about things occurring in his district. (CenterSquare and Shift)
Gang-related crime is increasing, but law enforcement officials state there is no reason for the public to be fearful about attending large public events. Two recent shootings in the Wenatchee Valley are believed to be gang-related. School officials have banned students from wearing clothes associated with gangs. Rumors circulated that law enforcement was encouraging residents to not attend public events due to the threat of more incidents. Police officials said this is not true and they encouraged residents to enjoy the annual Washington State Apple Blossom Festival festivities which begin next Thursday. (Wenatchee World)
Guest Commentary
In advance of President Joe Biden’s visit to Washington State yesterday evening (for fundraising) and today (at media events attempting to convince the skeptical public that liberal policies aren’t costing average Americans a lot of money), U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse provided his thoughts on the negative impact of the Democrats’ policies. The Republican congressman and Yakima Valley hops farmer stated that under President Biden the country is moving in the wrong direction. Inflation is at a 40-year high, gas and energy prices are hurting families, crime is rampant, open borders are bringing dangerous drugs into our communities, and the broken supply chain is hurting farmers’ ability to affordably feed Americans and the world. Yet instead of switching away from their failed policies, President Biden and the Democrats are doubling-down and making conditions even worse. Representative Newhouse writes, “(President Biden’s) policies are not working for Washingtonians, and when November’s election rolls around, Republicans in Congress will be ready and waiting to hold this administration accountable and stop them from harming our constituents—and our country—any further.” (Click to read full Special Guest Commentary from Congressman Dan Newhouse)
Overheard on the Internet
Support Shift's 2022 Election coverage
Do you like The Daily Briefing?
Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment and provides you inside coverage of the 2022 elections.
Forward this to a friend. It helps us grow our community and serve you better.
You can also follow SHIFTWA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].