The Washington State Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for November 29th on Democrat Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s motion to allow the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) to continue to spend taxpayer dollars preparing to collect the state’s income tax on capital gains. The DOR has continued to prepare for the tax collection despite a Douglas County Superior Court, following nearly a century of legal precedent, determining that the capital gains income tax is “unconstitutional and void.”

The Citizen Action Defense Fund filed a cease and desist motion with the DOR, arguing the state does not have the authority to continue implementing a tax that the courts have determined illegal.  AG Ferguson then filed the motion asking the Supreme Court to “stay” the Douglas County Superior Court’s decision, thus allowing the DOR to continue its rulemaking and collection process on the tax until the State Supreme Court rules on the appeal of Douglas County Superior Court’s decision (which will be heard by the nine Supreme Court Justices on January 26th). The November 29^th hearing will determine whether or not the DOR can continue its process to collect the tax.

The litigants who successfully argued before the Douglas County Superior Court and achieved the ruling that the state’s income tax on capital gains is unconstitutional oppose AG Ferguson’s motion for a stay. They argue in court documents that the stay is not justified because it is based on the notion that the Supreme Court will rule contrary to a century of legal precedent. (Washington Policy Center, The Center Square, Citizen Action Defense Fund media release, State’s motion for a stay,  and Brief objecting to AG Ferguson’s motion for a stay)

A new report from the Washington State Auditor’s Office on how local governments spend the taxpayers’ money on homelessness found there is very little accountability by those who spend the money and that decisions on homelessness programs by local governments are rarely data-based.  The report recognized that “Washingtonians are growing more frustrated and concerned as the number of people living on the streets and in encampments continues to grow, even as government spends more on programs to address homelessness.” It found that instead of using easily available data to determine actions, local governments rely more on the wishes of elected officials, various boards, and grant funding requirements.

The report revealed that Washington’s local governments spent $357 million on homelessness in 2021. The local governments often pay non-profits to perform services, yet if the organization performs poorly, rarely are there corrective actions taken.  And sadly, from the reaction of local governments to the auditor’s report, it appears local governments will not change the failed methods they currently use, which continue to make the homeless crisis even worse.  When asked if the report will have any impact, the head of Snohomish County’s Human Services Department said, “Do I think it’s going to have a profound impact on homelessness? I do not. ”  (Seattle Times and Washington State Auditor Performance Audit)

The National Farm Burau Federation says that the average cost for Thanksgiving dinner has jumped a whopping 20% from last year and 37% from 2020 as the Democrats’ inflation continues to hit hardest those who are lower income.  According to the grocery price of items for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie mix, etc.) for ten people, the average cost is $64.05. In 2021 this figure was $53.31, and in 2020 it was $46.90.  The price is even worse on the West Coast (due in part to higher transportation costs due to high gas tax rates), where the average cost is $71.37.  (National Farm Bureau Federation media release)

A Vancouver Columbian editorial called on state leaders and the Washington State Patrol to do a better job of quickly reducing the backlog of thousands of untested sexual assault evidence kits.  At the end of October, nearly 4,500 untested kits were used to obtain the DNA of the attacker.  The editorial states, “the state has not fulfilled its promise to victims of sexual assault. Nor has it fully protected potential future victims; according to the audit, research indicates about half of those who commit sexual assault have done so more than once.” (Vancouver Columbian)

The frustrated owner of a small Hispanic Tacoma grocery said his business had been burglarized six times after another incident early Thursday morning in which an employee was shot and is now recovering in the hospital.  Sergio Pelayo, the owner of Los Amigos on South Tacoma Way, said the alarm went off at 2:30 this morning after criminals used a car to ram the front door (a technique used more often, usually with stolen vehicles).  An employee who lives nearby investigated what was taking place and was shot by the criminals before they left the scene in the vehicle they used to bust down the front door. (News Tribune)

Governor Jay Inslee stubbornly refused to rehire fired unvaccinated Washington State ferry workers, even though doing so would solve many of the canceled sailing problems caused by not having enough Coast Guard certified ferry workers to sail across Puget Sound.  Instead, the Inslee Administration has adopted “alternate schedules” (i.e., reduced number of sailings) on some routes until further notice.  The Washington State Ferry system lost 132 workers in October 2021 due to the governor’s COVID  vaccine mandate.  Since then, many ferry sailings have been canceled at the last minute due to insufficient certified crew members.  This has left thousands of stranded passengers stuck on the dock, sometimes overnight, waiting for enough crew members to sail the vessel. (The Center Square)

It is interesting to watch what is taking place in Eastern Oregon as many are working towards succeeding from the state and joining Idaho.  This development makes some wonder whether it could also take place in Washington.  Changing state borders requires both states’ consent and Congress’s approval.  Thus far, 11 of Eastern Oregon’s 17 counties have voted to move forward (often in non-binding advisory votes) in moving into Idaho. Many of the remaining counties may vote next year.

Eastern Washington residents are becoming increasingly frustrated by the constant attacks by Puget Sound liberals who want to tear down dams, impose costly regulations on farming, and have local controls removed over the development of large solar and wind energy farms. The 20 counties in Eastern Washington nearly always vote more moderately than the extreme liberal positions favored by Western Washington voters. (Pacific Northwest AG Network and Shift Article)

The Walla Walla Police Department could soon be receiving body cameras as funding for the devices is currently included in the city’s proposed budget.  If the city council approves the budget, officers could begin wearing the cameras in March.  (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

Governor Jay Inslee flew to Egypt and bragged that he and the Democrats who control the Washington State Legislature have eliminated the public from having any say on where large energy farms can be built.  The governor made these comments earlier this week at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (commonly referred to as COP27).  In between hobnobbing with wealthy environmentalist donors at exclusive receptions, the governor described how his administration and Democrat legislators removed local authorities from having any say in where and how large energy farms are built in their communities and gave the sole power over the fate of these gigantic “farms” to a state government committee (the Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Council,  which the governor controls the membership of).  Like the governor’s 975 days of abusing emergency powers during the COVID pandemic, Governor Inslee evidently believes that his arguments and/or his abilities are not sufficient to convince others to side with his views.  Thus he simply eliminates the ability of others to have any input.  (Click to read full Shift article)

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