While millions of Washington residents continue to face financial insecurity, Governor Jay Inslee has given state workers a pay raise and more days off.  This is their second pay raise in a year, and they do not have to show up to work as often.  Meanwhile the Governor refuses to listen to requests from legislators for an immediate special session (mostly from Republicans but also from a few responsible Democrats) to fix the state’s financial crisis.  Oh, by the way, Governor Inslee, who is already the 6^th highest paid governor in the country, is also receiving a substantial non merit-based pay raise. (Shift)

This week’s Newsmaker Interview is with Mindie Wirth, campaign chair of Parents for Safe Schools, the campaign seeking to overturn Washington State’s new controversial sex education bill (SB 5395).  The measure was proposed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and passed by a party vote by the Democrat controlled legislature.  Earlier this month the campaign turned in a record breaking 266,000 signatures (twice the number required), despite the incredible obstacles created by the coronavirus outbreak.  Mindie shares how the group was successful in placing Referendum 90 on the ballot and how they plan to mount their campaign to reject the divisive legislation that removes parents and local school boards in public schools’ sex education curriculum. (Shift)

Back by popular demand! Get your “Governor Zero” face mask today. Only $25 with proceeds going to support Shift and the Northwest Republican Community Fund’s effort to help our neighbors who have lost their wages through supporting Hopelink. (Shift’s “Governor Zero” face mask and Northwest Republican Community Fund/Hopelink)

A Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled Governor Inslee’s 2019 line-item vetoes to the transportation budget were illegal.  The lawsuit was brought by Republican legislators who believed Inslee overstepped his constitutional authority.  Senator Curtis King (R – Yakima) said, “These vetoes would have hindered the efforts of small, rural transit agencies to provide service by basically forcing them to meet requirements for certain fuel types in order to receive grants and funding.” (Washington Senate Republican Caucus)

Local law enforcement officials were extremely critical of Governor Inslee’s order that makes it mandatory for people to wear face masks while in public.   Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snazza told a crowd gathered at the Uncle Sam sign off I-5, “Don’t be sheep” in response to the order.  In Klickitat County, Sheriff Bob Songer called the Governor an “idiot” in an interview with Oregon Public Radio, and said Inslee was “overstepping his bounds” with the order. (Kitsap Sun)

Growing frustration is occurring as the result of the Washington State Patrol closing I-5 every day during rush hour to allow a few protestors to cross the freeway in Seattle.  While a couple dozen law breakers are dictating the actions of Governor Inslee and state officials, tens of thousands law abiding commuters are stuck in miles long traffic jams.  We wonder if all those idling cars were part of the governor’s climate change policy. (Preston Phillips [and many others] on Twitter)

In the latest failed attempt by Seattle officials to enforce city laws being broken by protestors, city work crews were unable to remove concrete barriers that provide the border of the CHAZ on Friday morning.  At 6:00 AM Seattle officials, including members of Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office, were seen negotiating with protestors while equipment and work crews idly waited for approval to remove the barriers.  Without removing the barriers, trucks departed the scene later in the morning.  Friday is also the day the city must provide a plan to address the CHAZ in response to a class-action lawsuit brought by neighborhood residents and businesses. (Seattle Times)

In his weekly interview with KIRO’s Dave Ross, former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna provided the legal background for the class-action lawsuit brought forth by Capitol Hill residents and businesses against the city’s actions which allowed the creation of the CHAZ.  McKenna said clearly protestors were breaking the law by barricading sidewalks and streets, yet since legal recourse is slow, local residents should first attempt to work to resolve the issue.  McKenna also said individuals who led the protests could face civil lawsuits for their actions. (KIRO/MyNorthwest)

Yakima County Sheriff Bob Udell stated his department will not be stopping or arresting people who do not comply with Governor Inslee’s order for residents to wear facemasks in public. The City of Yakima police have taken a similar stance.  Udell said, “From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, my position has been engagement and education over enforcement. It is a position shared by law enforcement throughout the state.” The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs has recommended law enforcement focus on education about the necessary precautions for the virus. (Yakima Herald)

Tri-City Health officials are concerned about local protests which could undermine their ability to re-open their economy.  An anonymous flyer is encouraging Tri-City residents to use the Columbia Park in a mass protest on July 5^th. Then they are calling for small businesses to defy state orders and re-open on July 6^th.  The Tri-Cities/Yakima region continues to experience the highest coronavirus infection rate in the state and remains the only area in the state which is still in Phase I.  Health officials are concerned the protests will hurt the local effort to convince the state the Tri-Cities area can safely re-open their businesses. (Tri-City Herald and KING5 interactive map)

Former Defense Secretary, retired general, and Tri-City resident Jim Mattis has joined the effort to encourage people to wear face coverings to reduce the number of coronavirus infections and “get people back to work.”  Mattis is featured in a 30-second public service announcement produced by the City of Richland.  Mattis states, “the little bugger is not going away” and we need to work together to beat COVID-19.  (KXLY -TV)

As expected, the higher-taxes bigger-government advocates at FUSE are now using the racial discrimination narrative to promote their selfish and greedy agenda.  In their latest email blast, the union-funded group used the race card by proclaiming that unless the state legislature raises taxes it will “disproportionately harm Black and brown Washingtonians.”  FUSE conveniently forgets that like all residents of our state, a vast majority of Washington’s racial minorities are currently facing economic hardship and cannot afford higher taxes or the resulting job losses the taxes will create.  Remember, FUSE is funded by union dues of state employees who just received a pay raise, more time off, and experienced nearly no wage loss during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The tax increases FUSE is promoting will pay for the increased salaries and benefits these government workers are receiving. (FUSE email blast and Shift)

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