If you believe Governor Inslee, then oil company greed and the war in Ukraine only impact the price of gas in Washington and not in our neighboring states.
State
Brandi Kruse had Todd Myers from the Washington Policy Center on her KIRO-FM radio program to discuss why the cost of gas in Washington State has already risen by 25 cents a gallon this year compared to the price in neighboring states. Myers explained the only reason for the increase is Governor Inslee’s Cap and Trade policies. While other states continue to see fuel prices dropping slightly since the beginning of the year, fuel companies in Washington State must be prepared to pay for the Democrats’ new fuel tax. Myers also explained that while Inslee’s Department of Ecology began to impose the tax on January 1 of this year, the agency is unable to reveal the actual tax rate until the end of February.
Kruse aired a KIRO report of Governor Inslee’s press conference from last week in which a reporter asked him about Myers’ (and environmental economist Yorum Bauman’s) initial findings that gas would rise by at least 10 cents a gallon. The governor was visibly upset that he, used to unquestioned loyalty after Democrats allowed him to run the state unchecked by such questions for 975 “emergency powers” days, would be asked such a question. So he fell back on his typical tactic of blaming someone else for the failure of his policies, in this case greedy oil companies and the war in Ukraine, for the price increase. The governor then labeled the data hogwash.
Myers responded to Governor Inslee’s outburst by saying he should be complaining to “the U.S. Energy Information Administration, because that’s who keeps the data. What they have shown over the past three weeks is that Washington’ gas prices are 25 cents higher than our neighbors on the West Coast. So they are the ones providing the data, not us (WPC). The data speaks for itself.”
Myers also refuted the governor’s argument that the price increase is due to oil company greed. Myers stated that if the governor’s statement was true than “oil company greed and the Ukraine war are only affecting Washington, not Idaho or Oregon or other West Coast states.” (KIRO-FM Podcast starting at approximately the 17:30 minute mark and Washington Policy Center)
Quick note: We join the growing chorus who hope that KIRO is able to make Brandi Kruse the permanent host in the Noon to 3:00 PM time slot which was previously mastered by Dori Monson, who suddenly passed away on December 31st. Kruse is outstanding as a radio host. While her podcast [un]Divided is incredibly successful, we believe she can likely reach a larger audience on KIRO. She is off for the next couple of days, but she will return on Monday.
A dedicated Shift reader sent us an article on the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Code and asks if Democrat Representative Clyde Shavers has adhered to these principles. Readers are likely aware that Shift broke the story in late October that the father of then-candidate Shavers confirmed that his son repeatedly lied to voters about his military career, his work experience, his family’s history, and his residence. After the story broke, Democrat organizations and government employee union groups poured tens of thousands of dollars into the campaign to keep him from losing the election. The lying Shavers ended up winning by just over 200 votes. Democrat leadership in the Washington State House of Representatives then insulted the integrity of the state’s 500,000 veterans by placing the confirmed liar Shavers on the House’s Veterans Committee.
Two of the eight “honor concepts” of the USNA listed are “We tell the truth and ensure the truth is known” and “We do not lie.” Representative Shavers boasts that he graduated from the USNA. We wonder if any journalist is willing to ask him if he believes he has lived up to the code that all USNA attendees are ordered to adhere to in their daily conduct. Ask any other veteran. (NavyOnline.com, Shift, and Washington Public Disclosure Commission candidate report)
A bi-partisan bill has been introduced in the Washington State Senate which will seek to alleviate some of the massive learning loss suffered by students during the pandemic, by increasing the school year by five days. Republican Senator Brad Hawkins (East Wenatchee) and Democrat Senator Linda Wellman (Mercer Island) have introduced SB 5505 to increase the school year from 180 days to 185 days. The bill is also supported by Democrat Senate Leader Andy Billig (Spokane) and Republican Senate leader John Braun (Centralia).
Test scores have shown there was significant learning loss to Washington State’s 4th and 8th graders due to Governor Inslee irrationally long closure of the state’s public schools and forcing students into a poorly developed remote-learning environment. The students’ learning loss was made even worse in many of the state’s school districts when teachers’ unions delayed returning to in-person education by selfishly using the pandemic to seek more money for less work. The article did not state whether the powerful teachers’ unions support the expansion of the school year or what the unions are demanding to not oppose student learning. (The Center Square, Washington Legislature Bill Summary, and National Report Card – Washington)
Reminder, tomorrow you can watch the Washington State Supreme Court hearing where Democrats will encourage the nine liberal justices to ignore 100 years of court precedent and overturn a Douglas Superior Court’s ruling that the income tax on capital gains is unconstitutional and illegal. Former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and his legal team will argue that the superior court’s ruling was based on a century of legal decisions. The hearing will begin at 9:00 AM and can be viewed on TVW. (TVW, Shift Newsmaker Interview, and Washington Policy Center)
Western Washington
Ballard business owners held a meeting last week to discuss the problems they have encountered due to crime, and Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss failed to show up or even send one of his many taxpayer-funded staff members to do the meeting. Barber shop owner Matt Humphrey stated that his establishment has repeatedly experienced break-ins in the past three years, and he believes the crimes are related to the neighborhood’s never-ending homelessness problem. He stated that he has repeatedly attempted to contact Councilmember Strauss (whose council district includes Ballard) about the meeting and at the last minute one of his staff members stated they were never contacted. We should note that Councilmember Sara Nelson, who represents the entire city, did not have any trouble receiving Humphries’ invitation and did attend the meeting.
This is not the first time Ballard employers have had trouble reaching Councilmember Strauss. Previously when the city was making changes to Ballard Avenue, frustrated business owners were upset with the lack of outreach performed by the city. Humphries stated that after numerous complaints, Strauss made a “surprise” visit to some of the businesses.
Councilmember Strauss has not yet stated whether he will be joining four other district-based Seattle City Councilmembers (Lisa Herbold, Debora Juarez, Alex Pederson, and Kshama Sawant) in fleeing from the disasters their policies have created by not running for re-election this year. Thus far he has demonstrated that he is unwilling to listen to what his constituents think about public safety. (MyNorthwest)
A Lynnwood city councilmember, who described himself as “the voice of a generation” is being investigated for illegally using the city council chambers for his own personal benefit. The other members of the Lynnwood City Council voted 6 – 0 on Monday evening to investigate whether 23-year old Councilmember Josh Binda inappropriately used public resources for personal financial gains. Reportedly Councilmember Binda came into the council chambers after hours to record a promotional video for his paid speaking engagements. The Lynnwood Municipal Code clearly states, “an official or employee shall not knowingly use his or her office or position for personal or family benefit gain or profit.”
This was not the first time Councilmember Binda (who also calls himself a “community organizer”) has questionably used the council chambers. One councilmember stated that Councilmember Binda previously used the chamber after hours to eat dinner and take selfies. Another official stated that last April he used the chambers to record a different video. It appears Councilmember Binda misheard the famous John F. Kennedy inauguration line, for Binda evidently adheres to the belief, “Ask not what I can do for the city – ask what the city can do for me.” (Everett Herald and USHistory.org)
Eastern Washington
The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes Governor Inslee’s transportation budget proposal, which will delay construction of two local projects which received funding from the 2015 transportation package. Turns out the governor likes to pick winners and losers, using taxpayer-approved money, and the losers are from areas that voted for Republicans. The governor’s latest partisan proposal would stop construction on State Routes 28 and State Route 285 in North Wenatchee.
Previously Spokane area officials also expressed opposition to the governor’s transportation proposal which would stop construction of the $1.5 billion North Spokane Corridor, which already has massive concrete pillars up along the new thoroughfare through North Spokane neighborhoods. The project also received funding from the 2015 transportation package.
The governor is seeking to take money from these Eastern Washington projects to fund new projects that are mostly centered in the Puget Sound region of the state. The governor is obviously more concerned about the needs of liberal Puget Sound region then he is about the needs of Eastern Washington. (Newsradio KPQ and The Center Square)
Newsmaker Interview
Shift’s Newsmaker Interview was with new Republican Senator Nikki Torres who made history last November when she became the first person of Hispanic heritage to be elected to the Washington State Senate from Eastern Washington. Senator Torres represents the 15th Legislative District including the Yakima Valley, Pasco in the Tri-Cities, and Othello in Adams County. The former Pasco City Councilmember is a manager for Western Governors University and is the mother of two daughters and has three grandchildren.
In her interview, Senator Torres outlined her agenda for the 2023 legislative session stating that her top priority is to improve public safety by reversing many of the Democrats’ disastrous anti-police measures. The senator asserted these liberal mistakes have “put the public at greater risk, making the streets safer for criminals, hostile to law enforcement, and dangerous for our families.” She outlined her belief that the legislature should focus more on providing tax relief to help families instead of using extra tax revenues to expand state government even further.
Senator Torres also provided her views on policies urban Democrats continue to impose of Eastern Washington farmers threatening their existence. She explained her legislation designed to help our farmers by improving their access to water. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)
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