State tax revenues are surging – even before the Democrats’ tax increases begin stealing even more from your wallet! Jason Mercier from the Washington Policy Center framed today’s news the best – “We now have $2.6 billion reason for lawmakers to finally provide broad-based tax relief to Washingtonians”, in a plea likely to go unheard by Democrats salivating over $2.6 billion MORE in tax revenue than they expected when they adjourned in April. Today’s release of the state’s quarterly revenue report contained data that calls into question (even more) why Democrats approved Jay Inslee’s unconstitutional state income tax and other tax and fee increases during the 2021 session.

Mercier also points out that our neighboring states – the ones Inslee loves copying when it comes to disastrous environmental policies – have used some of their excess revenue surpluses to provide tax relief for their citizens – what a concept! He even reminds legislators that “for each 0.1% reduction in the state sales tax rate, approximately $306 million in tax relief could be provided. When it was first imposed in 1935, Washington’s sales tax rate was 2.0%. It is currently imposed at 6.5% and has not seen a rate reduction since 1982.”

That extra $2.6 billion you just found actually belongs to the taxpayers. Give some of it back.

Are you listening, Jay? Or any Democrats? (Washington Policy Center and Shift)

Bob Ferguson wants you in for the “long haul” but doesn’t exactly tell you where he’s going.  In his latest exercise in legalized campaign begging, Attorney General Bob tells us that he needs money, but doesn’t say what he’s raising money for, leading us to ask what’s he hauling, and does he have a permit?

Ferguson must be having trouble raising money as old white guy in today’s Democrat Party, as embarrasses himself thoroughly in his email. He sells access to himself, via Zoom, for a paltry $25 per month, despite sitting on a nearly $3 million dollar slush fund from his last campaign to use to buy whatever favors might find necessary for his next Democrat primary – whatever that might be for. (Ferguson Campaign email)

Seattle’s new freeway game is (unfortunately) growing – dodging debris thrown from overpasses! Dangerous incidents of material being thrown from Seattle overpasses onto vehicles traveling on freeways underneath are increasing, as years of liberal anti-public safety policies encourage lawlessness in the once safe city.  Three more drivers (one in a large semi-trailer truck) reported that their windshields were severely damaged by thrown objects as they drove on I-5 through downtown Seattle. Almost 100 such incidents have been reported since the beginning of the year near the I-5 and I-90 interchange.  Just like open public drug use, the increase in shoplifting, homeless encampments in almost every public park, a mass exodus of well-trained police officers, and the sharp increase in violent crimes (two more murders, on Aurora Avenue and Mt. Baker, happened yesterday in broad daylight), the increasing occurrence of material being thrown at cars is more proof that the city’s liberal public safety policies are failing to keep the public safe.  Outgoing disgraced Mayor Jenny Durkan may be encouraging people to return to downtown Seattle, but potential shoppers and tourists are being scared away due to the city abdicating its public safety duties.  (KIRO – TV and Seattle Times)

Some good news from Pierce County that even Jay Inslee can’t stop – the Puyallup is back, and so are its concerts! Just two weeks after the Puyallup Fair announced it would return this year, overcoming the economic punishment that Governor Inslee reserved for Pierce County earlier this spring, its well-attended concert series lineup, topped by country star Carrier Underwood, was released.  As the News Tribune points out, the “state fair is the largest event in Washington, drawing in more than a million visitors.” Just as long as Inslee doesn’t change his mind about reopening, of course. (Tacoma News Tribune, Shift). Washington fair: Carrie Underwood, Macklemore & music lineup | Tacoma News Tribune (thenewstribune.com)

The University of Washington is coming under attack for ignoring science, denying graduates their due. Crosscut highlights how, in just another pandemic example of government overreach and ignoring science when it suits its risk-averse needs, the University of Washington administrators hurt its graduating seniors this month. The UW “advertised a “historic interactive Commencement celebration” and promised it would be “a unique Grad Experience, custom created with cutting-edge technology and virtual magic,” but instead delivered another disappointment, in a year of disappointments for its students.

Despite updated CDC guidelines and vaccines available to every Washingtonian over 16 back in April, UW President Ana Mari Cauce used April Fool’s Day to announce its virtual commencement some two months later, just like last year. The response from some students was Julie Lim, a first generation Cambodian college graduate, said “If the school can host football games, then they can host graduation. Since this is not the case, I think it shows that they do not care as much about their students as much as they say they do, especially as students of color are typically first-generation students.” (Crosscut)

It’s going to be hot – don’t start fires. It should probably go without saying, but since the National Interagency Fire Center put out a release predicting a high fire-risk level for this summer, local fire officials took the opportunity to let people know that “Eastern Washington suffered a drier-than-usual springtime followed by a worse-than-usual drought, making a dangerous cocktail of risk factors” coming this way. So, be careful out there. (Spokesman-Review).

Normalcy returning to WSU – fans can pack the stands at Martin Stadium. In another sign that the state is emerging from its COVID restrictions, the Spokesman Review reported that “Washington State announces 100% capacity at home football games this fall.” Now it’s up to the team to merit a packed house. (Spokesman Review)

Governor Jay Inslee has a way of making even the mundane just another exercise in his favored style of lazy partisan politics. The latest example of the accidental governor’s “leadership” was signing two bills at the same time – to ensure that the state would waste money trying to overcome his dereliction of duty. And, it’s not the first time that Inslee has deployed his money-wasting ways to the state’s treasury  (Click to read full Shift Article)

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