Play in Shift’s “Madness in Olympia” tournament as you determine which of the many bad proposals the Democrats have made deserves to be crowned 2021’s Worst Idea.  In a tournament format, we have included our top eight contenders.  Each week we will ask our readers to vote on the worst ideas. We have two brackets, capturing the Democrats top two priorities for this session: one for “More Taxes” and one for “Less Public Safety.”  Share it with your friends. (Shift’s Madness in Olympia)

Hey Seattle Times, be careful, your bias is showing.  Very questionable coverage from the Seattle Times over its story regarding legislative concerns about the lack of transparency in the investigation of the data breach at the Washington State Auditor’s office.  Last December, hackers took advantage of shoddy management and infiltrated the office’s computer system, gaining access to the personal financial information of 1.3 million Washington State residents.  Ironically, the auditor’s office had the data because it was investigating the security breach last Spring at the Governor Inslee’s Employment Security Department (ESD) in which $600 million was stolen, one of the largest crimes in American history.  In the story, the reporters never once mention that Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy is a partisan Democrat, only that she is “an independently elected statewide official.” The story also only mentions three Democrat legislators who are investigating the security breach and never mentions the investigations by Republican Representative Matt Boehnke (Kennewick), who is a 30-year data security expert and who has already proposed significant reforms.  As to the lack of transparency in the investigation into actions by McCarthy’s office, this appears to be a trend by Democrats in Olympia.  It was only last November, when Auditor McCarthy herself accused Governor Jay Inslee’s appointee at ESD, Suzi LeVine, of imposing “severe constraints” on the state auditor’s investigation into employment office’s security practices.  (Seattle Times and House Republican Caucus)

A new report reveals that Washington State residents have averaged nearly 17 alcohol drinks per week during the COVID-19 pandemic and have crossed over the threshold of being classified by the Centers for Disease Control as “heavy drinkers.”  The report is from data collected from an American Addiction Centers’ survey.  Marijuana sales have also spiked in the state, as many residents have increased usage of addictive substances during the pandemic.  Meanwhile, Governor Jay Inslee has ignored numerous requests to reclassify 12-step meetings as “faith based” (instead of “group counseling”), which would allow addiction recovery groups to safely meet in-person. To show how nonsensical Jay Inslee’s rules are for meetings, “faith based” groups are allowed to gather at 25% room capacity, while “group counseling” is limited to just five people, even when they are meeting in the same rooms.  Many 12-step meetings have moved to the Zoom platform during the pandemic, but have experienced a severe decline in attendance, especially from newcomers seeking assistance with their addiction. (Bellevue Reporter, Washington Observer, and Shift)

Governor Inslee’s former Chief of Staff David Postman has been appointed (paid off?) by his former boss to a cushy part-time position as the chair of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board.  Postman will be paid $66,420 a year to attend a scheduled 7 hours of meetings a month.  Postman most recently served (briefly) on the Biden Administration’s transition team, where apparently he was successful in ridding the state of Inslee’s disastrous Commissioner of the Employment Security Department Suzi LeVine, by securing her a position in President Biden’s Department of Labor. (Bellingham Herald/AP, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board, and Vancouver Columbian)

Despite teachers being moved to the front of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination line, there is still serious doubt that the Seattle School District will resume in-person instruction this school year.  The Seattle Education Association (SEA) continues to demonstrate that its union power is more important than the education and well-being of our youth and the “inequity” created by distance learning.  The SEA President stated there are still more safety “protocols” needed, despite schools throughout the world proving that in-person instruction can safely take place.  The President of the King County Labor Council states she believes schools will not reopen until the fall.  Earlier this week, the teachers’ union filed a labor grievance over the Seattle School District moving forward with plans to return special education students to in-person instruction.  Are we reaching the point where even the most desperate Democrat politician will refuse to accept contributions from the uncaring teachers unions? (KUOW and Q13 News)

The sweep of the homeless encampment at Denny Park raised many questions about the City of Seattle’s current policy for dealing with homeless individuals living in public spaces, and who exactly is accountable for managing the problem?  In the Seattle Times story about this week’s removal of the 20 remaining tents from a previously larger encampment at the park, there were many contradictory and vague statements about the city’s current policy. The Seattle City Council had earlier banned this type of removal when they defunded the Navigation Teams, which were previously responsible for removing encampments on public property.  But how was this removal at Denny Park different than previous Navigation Team removals?  The public was previously told by Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales that the city would rely on homeless non-profit groups as to when encampments would be removed. Yet a non-profit group spokesperson stated this removal was an internal city decision.  There was also much confusion about the involvement of the Seattle Police Department, since the council has previously stated law enforcement should not be involved in removing homeless people from public property, yet pictures clearly indicate they were many officers at the park.  No one appears to be in charge and there is no accountability.  Five and a half years after Seattle’s homeless situation was declared an emergency, and after millions of public dollars have been spent, the problem worsens.  The public is becoming more frustrated by the lack of accountability and direction from its liberal city officials.  Meanwhile thousands of individuals continue to live the cruel existence of being without shelter, with most suffering from untreated mental illness or substance addiction. (Seattle Times)

The COVID-19 pandemic might change how jury trials are conducted in the future.  King County has been holding “virtual” trials, where juries view the proceedings via video conferencing.  In criminal cases, defendants must waive their rights to face their accuser in court. King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell said, ““There’s no measurable difference frankly that us judges can tell from the many civil zoom trials we’ve done and the few criminal zoom trials we’ve done in outcomes.” (KOMO News)

Eastern Washington officials continue to push Governor Inslee to include them in deciding what Phase 3 of his “Roadmap to Recovery” will look like.  Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward joined others who believe local officials need to be included.  The mayor was diplomatic in her public statements regarding the governor’s previous failures to consider the ideas and concerns of local officials. Yet she did say, “I think it’s important for the governor’s office and those who are leading the effort to get to Phase 3 and 4 to understand that in Eastern Washington, we have a different makeup of business sectors, and many of our jobs are very reliant on hospitality.” Mayor Woodward went on to say that Eastern Washington officials were not “at the table” in making important decisions, but they are not going to “wait and wait to be invited,” so they will make their suggestions known. (KREM2 News)

For the first time since last June, Walla Walla County health officials reported no new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. Currently there are 74 active cases in the county, with three coronavirus patients in the hospital.   (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)

Stating, “People are anxious,” the Tri-City Herald argues that Governor Inslee “needs to get cracking and figure out” guidelines for Phase 3 and Phase 4.  The paper believes that citizens should be informed by the governor of what needs to occur so businesses can make plans and people can schedule their lives.  The editorial also took aim at the Democrat majority in the Washington State Legislature for being “content to let Inslee continue to have sole power over how the state manages the COVID pandemic,” and not instituting reforms on the governor’s emergency powers. (Tri-City Herald)

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.

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].