Our Newsmaker Interview last Friday was with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who has represented the 5th Congressional District in Eastern Washington since 2004. The Congresswoman responded to our questions on a variety of issues. On the coronavirus outbreak, McMorris Rodgers shared her thoughts on encouraging Governor Jay Inslee to reverse his orders on commercial construction, why she voted against Nancy Pelosi’s partisan $3 trillion package, what she is doing to help rural health facilities and farmers, and how Congress will need to adapt to new health guidelines. The Congresswoman also provided our readers with her insight on the Snake River dams and assisting those with special needs. (Shift)

The Spokesman-Review is among the growing number of media voices demanding that Governor Inslee be more forthcoming about the details of the historic fraud that took place under his watch. The governor and his team have yet to even tell the public how much money was stolen from the taxpayers, let alone be honest and inform Washington citizens if actions (or more likely inactions) by the Employment Security Department made the fraud worse.  Thus far, the only comment Governor Inslee has made about the state being the victim of one of the largest theft’s in American history was this flippant statement that dodged the issue, “What I stand against is the moral outrage of this international conspiracy that turned the virus of COVID into the virus of crime.” (Spokesman-Review and Jim Brunner’s Twitter)

Did Governor Inslee see that a fellow (Democrats only) Western States Pact member fired her Employment Department director over delays in sending jobless benefits?  Oregon Governor Kate Brown fired Kay Erickson over the long delays in processing benefit payments in her state.  Luckily for Washington’s embattled Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine, who also has demonstrated the same incompetence, she has a long history of raising large amounts of money for Democrat campaigns. That’s the kind of important qualification that will keep her safe in the Inslee Administration, as opposed to actually providing benefits to Washington residents and protecting the state’s treasury from being scammed out of “hundreds of millions of dollars.” (OregonLive)

Reminder, Crosscut is asking the public to submit questions for their interview with Governor Inslee on Tuesday at 11:00 AM.  We encourage our readers to pose the questions you might have over the state’s response to the coronavirus and the Employment Security Department’s fraud scandal.  Thus far this is the only opportunity the public has had to pose tough questions of Governor Zero. Please keep in mind Crosscut will more likely ask the governor your question if you ask it respectfully.  You can submit your questions by filling out the short form after you follow this link. (Crosscut)

The Washington State Labor Council has chosen to label fellow union members in law enforcement as racists and white supremacists.  No sane person who has watched the video of the killing of George Floyd would be inclined to defend the officers involved. However, the state’s AFL-CIO chapter goes far beyond that in lumping all police officers in the same racist bucket. In a statement released last Friday, the labor council’s leadership said, “There is and has been an epidemic of racist police violence targeting Black Americans, our sisters, brothers, and siblings in the labor movement. As unionists, when we see injustice, it is our obligation to call it out. We must root out white supremacy within all of our institutions, but in particular within law enforcement.” (The Stand)

Many people are wondering if the mass release of convicted criminals and the higher threshold for incarcerating suspected criminals had a part in the destruction that took place over the weekend.  If rioters know there is little chance they will be held accountable for their crimes, what is to stop them from destructive behavior? And why did peaceful protestors provide cover to the violent criminals by violating curfews? (KING5 News)

King County Executive Dow Constantine posted a tweet saying how proud he was that his staff provided 1,000 cloth face coverings to those who were burning cars, breaking windows, and stealing merchandise in Seattle on Saturday evening.  Constantine tweeted his comments just as the violence was erupting downtown.  It must surely comfort the shop owners, local residents, and police officers to know that – thanks to Dow – those who were committing these crimes were safe from transmitting the virus to others who were also rioting.  Constantine’s office soon deleted the tweet, but not before it was captured by many in the local media. (MyNorthwest)

As members of hate groups were sleeping off their destruction hangover, responsible and caring members of our community were cleaning up the mess the rioters created. In Seattle, Bellevue, and other communities, caring individuals woke up early and helped the local employers who were facing yet another set of difficult challenges.  Like parents cleaning up after a spoiled toddler’s tantrum, hundreds of volunteers joined shop owners and city workers to sweep up the glass, pick up the garbage, and wipe off the graffiti. Many companies donated supplies, snacks, and plenty of coffee.  These are the people who define our community – not those pushing their  selfish agenda through destruction. (KING5 News)

The day after mobs of rioters caused significant damage to Bellevue employers, State Senator Patty Kuderer (D – Bellevue), who “represents” much of downtown Bellevue, decided to tweet a divisive political article, and has thus far said nothing to support those who were victims of mob violence.  Like many people on Sunday, Senator Kuderer did tweet out KOMO-TV video of Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett speaking to the crowd (while others in the crowd were on a rampage).  But since then, Senator Kuderer, who proposed legislation to return voting rights to felons before they had completed their sentence, has said nothing on Twitter or on her official Facebook page supporting Bellevue employers or the police and has not condemned the actions of the rioters.   (Senator Kuderer’s Twitter and Facebook, KUOW, and KOMO Twitter)

Canadian officials’ decision to not allow large cruise ships to enter British Columbian waters, until November, is a severe blow to the Seattle/Alaska 2020 cruise business.  Due to the federal Passenger Service Act (PSA), Seattle’s foreign-owned cruise ships must stop in a B.C. port during a trip to visit Alaska destinations. Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell could greatly help the Puget Sound tourism industry by leading an immediate congressional effort to obtain a temporary waiver from the PSA.  Waivers have often been obtained from the PSA (and the corresponding Jones Act for cargo vessels) during times of crisis.  (Transport Canada News Release)

15 rioters were arrested for their part in the destruction of property during a Sunday protest in Spokane. Employers and volunteers were up early Monday morning to help clean-up the glass and remove graffiti left by the criminals. (Spokesman-Review)

The legal posturing continues as Chelan and Douglas counties have combined their lawsuits against Governor Inslee and have filed their suit in Chelan County Superior Court.  The plaintiffs (39 elected officials and business owners impacted by Inslee’s coronavirus declarations) believe the governor’s emergency orders should no longer be in effect and authority should be returned to local jurisdictions.  Inslee’s attorneys (from Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office) are expected to make things more difficult for the Wenatchee-area plaintiffs by filing a motion to have the case moved to Thurston County. (Wenatchee World)

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