A detailed ethics complaint was filed against Governor Jay Inslee and 11 Democrat legislators because they illegally “used public property and taxpayer funds and resources to conduct political rallies.” Longtime government transparency activist Glen Morgan filed the complaint with the Executive Ethics Board (in the AG’s office) and the Legislative Ethics Board.  The complaint centers around a June 25, 2022 “news conference” on the grounds of the state capital in Olympia and an October 21, 2022 “press conference” in Bellingham.  Both events were paid for with taxpayer dollars, but the governor and Democrat legislators used the sham events to promote campaign themes and the election of Democrats, which is an illegal use of state funds.

The June press conference was in response the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision (which allowed voters and/or elected representatives to determine their state’s abortion laws) and participants encouraged voters to support Democrats and made partisan attacks against Republicans.  The governor was joined by Democrat Senators Manka Dhingra and Emily Randall, and Democrat Representatives My-Linh Thai and Jessica Bateman at this campaign event.

The “press conference” last week in Bellingham was held on state property (Western Washington University) and was coordinated by state employees.  At the event, the participants made numerous partisan statements and highlighted the importance of electing Democrats in next month’s general election.  It is not a coincidence that this “official” event took place in Whatcom County, where both the Democrats and Republicans, (and several third-party organizations) have poured millions of dollars into the hotly contested 42nd Legislative District races which could determine which party controls the legislature in 2023.  Governor Inslee was joined at the ”press conference” by Democrat Senators June Robinson, Liz Lovelett , and (again) Manka Dhingra, and by Democrat Representatives Vandana Slatter, Debra Lekanoff, Alex Ramel, Sharon Shewmake, and Alicia Rule.

These lawbreaking actions by Democrat lawmakers is typical of what takes place when “one-party rule” becomes the norm. Those in power begin to see government resources and taxpayer dollars as things to be taken for their own personal and political benefit. We have seen this repeatedly by Governor Inslee, who even forced Washington State taxpayers to spend millions on his personal security during his failed five-month long campaign for president and repeatedly hit up the government treasury for overseas vacations with his wife.  (Ethics complaint Part 1 and Part 2, TVW video, and Seattle Times)

As we mentioned yesterday, the Washington State Supreme Court will hear arguments in the lawsuit over the Democrats’ illegal state income tax on capital gains next January 26^th.  Democrat lawmakers are seeking to overturn a Douglas County Superior Court judge who used a century of legal precedent to rule last March that the state income tax tax was unconstitutional. Many people are fearful that the nine liberal members of the State Supreme Curt will ignore those legal precedents to find some way to define the tax as an “excise tax” even though the IRS and 49 other states all consider it a tax on income, which is unconstitutional in Washington State. (Washington Policy Center)

We are deeply sadden by the news that Jamie Walsh, the wife of State Representative Jim Walsh for 33 years, was killed in a car accident Monday morning.  The architect and mother of five children was driving on Highway 101 east of Cosmopolis in Grays Harbor, when her car crossed the center dividing line and crashed into a logging truck. Our thoughts are with Representative Walsh and his family. (Jim Walsh Facebook post)

Some 25 gas stations in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County are using their pump advertisement space (“gas pump toppers”) to inform drivers that the price of gas is estimated to rise 46 more cents a gallon next year due to the expensive cap-and-trade bill the Democrats passed in 2021.  Democrat lawmakers continue to hope voters ignore the considerable research which has been done (using data provided by the state) showing that SB 5126 (the “Climate Commitment Act”) will begin to dramatically increase the price of fuel starting next year. So while liberal legislators such as Representative Alex Ramel (D – Bellingham) and Senator Jamie Pederson (D – Seattle) keep pushing the pre-election falsehood that fuel price increases will not be more than a couple of cents per gallon, the state’s own numbers are showing that the price increase will be very noticeable and that it is yet another liberal policy which will impact lower- and middle-income households the hardest.

Thus far it is mostly Shell gas stations that are posting signs to inform drivers of the upcoming price hike. Other Washington State gas stations which would like to participate in informing drivers of the upcoming price hike should contact David Boze at the Washington Policy Center at 206-937-9691. (Gas Pump Topper sign, Washington Research Council, Washington Legislature Bill Summary, KXLY TV News, and Shift Article)

Liberal drug, crime, and homeless polices have led to Seattle’s methamphetamine death rate to climb sharply from approximately 100 a year to an average of 365 per year (or one per day).  Thus far in 2022, there have been 318 deaths in the city due to meth overdoses.  Studies estimate that 74% of the deaths are associated with those who are homeless. Instead of changing the various policies which have led to this explosion in the death rates, the Seattle City Council is considering handing out gift cards to people who stay clean.  Over the course of 12 weeks, the former meth users could earn up to $300 in gift cards and vouchers.  It is well known by those who are familiar with addicts and addictive behavior that many of these people have continued to use drugs despite losing jobs, relationships, and homes over their addiction. Why does the city council believe that a gift card could entice these individuals to stay clean when the loss of these other far more valuable possessions failed to keep them clean? (MyNorthwest)

For the first time in 44 years, the election for King County Prosecutor does not have an incumbent and there is a big difference in the agenda of the two general election candidates.  Jim Ferrell is a former county assistant prosecutor and has been mayor of Federal Way for almost nine years. In this role he has seen how liberal anti-police policies have increased crime rates, especially in South King County. He is endorsed by law enforcement organizations.  Leesa Manion has been out-going prosecutor Dan Satterberg’s Chief of Staff for 15 years and supports many of the social justice reforms pushed by liberals, like her current boss, which undermine public safety. (Seattle Times)

The liberals on the Spokane City Council threw out a redistricting plan drawn by a non-partisan  commission in favor of a plan which benefits one specific councilmember who won his previous election by just 262 votes.  Spokane elects two city councilmembers in each of its three council districts, along with a citywide council president.  In 2021, Zack Zappone won in the 3rd Council District by that very slim margin.  The non-partisan redistricting commission provided its maps for the new district borders and Councilmember Zappone was not pleased that he would face a tough challenge when he runs for re-election in 2025. So, the aspiring career politician decided to draw up his own map which broke up neighborhoods and used side roads as borders.

The ultra-partisan Zappone was able to convince his fellow liberals on the council to throw out the redistricting  commission’s proposed map (which was developed with significant input from the public) and instead accept his own gerrymandered map which placed more liberal voters in his district.  This is the latest example of liberals disregarding the views of the public and instead imposing rules that benefit themselves. (Daniel Walters’ twitter)

The Republicans on the Spokane County Commission are expected this afternoon to call the conditions at “Camp Hope” an emergency and provide to Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich the procedural tools he needs to begin clearing the large encampment that has grown on Washington State Department of Transportation property near I-90.   The Inslee Administration has allowed the encampment to grow to over 500 people, and those who are working for the state have falsely informed residents that if they leave the encampment they will lose the opportunity to move into a tiny house village. The encampment has been connected to a significant increase in crime in the neighborhood and there are multiple reports of rapes and vicious attacks inside the encampment.  One resident labeled it “Lord of the Flies on drugs.”

By issuing an emergency proclamation, the county commissioners will free up resources which will allow the sheriff’s office to proceed with removing the encampment. The Three Republican commissioners are expected to pass the resolution this evening.

This afternoon, Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward announced that the city, county, Spokane Police, Spokane County Sheriff, and the Spokane Fire Department have set up an Emergency Operations Center at the Trent Avenue shelter to begin processing those who reside in the encampment.  Temporary office space and additional beds will be brought to the Trent Avenue facility to make assessments and process individuals. (KXLY TV News and City of Spokane media release)

Shift’s Newsmaker Interview was with Republican House candidate Brett Johnson, who is taking on controversial two-term Democrat Representative Melanie Morgan in the 29^th Legislative District (Tacoma and Central Pierce County). Last week the Chief Clerk of the House of Representative released an independent report finding that Representative Morgan had “engaged in abusive and bullying conduct” in her role as Chair of the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force.

Johnson is an Air Force veteran and a small business owner. In his interview, Johnson provided his thoughts on the just-released investigation on the unprofessional conduct of his incumbent opponent.  As violent crime continues to break records in Tacoma, Johnson stated his top priority will be to repeal Democrat bills “which have hampered law enforcement.” He said he is hearing the financial concerns of his neighbors and that he supports tax relief which will help those who are most vulnerable. Johnson called for repeal of the Democrats’ poorly developed Long-Term Care payroll tax. Finally, he stated that an autobiography written by an NCAA Basketball Hall of Fame coach has been his favorite book for a longtime. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

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