The Washington State Republican Senate Caucus reminds us that more of the Democrats’ massive fee increases – to pay for the $17 billion transportation package they jammed through – will go into effect this Saturday (October 1^st).  Legislative Democrats patted themselves on the back earlier this year with misleading statements claiming that gas taxes were not raised to pay for their latest transportation plan – and the local media never questioned the false statements.  Yet the Democrats always forgot to mention that they raised fees (some by 400%!) on basic state services, which will hurt lower- and middle- income workers the hardest.

The substantial increased fees on many license plate items were effective back on July 1^st.

Starting this Saturday, it will cost Washington State residents 75% more (from $24 to $42, and from $32 to $56) to obtain an enhanced driver’s license and 100% more (from $10 to $20) to acquire a new license photograph. Republicans put forth a transportation budget during the legislative session which did not raise any fees or taxes and instead used the state’s surplus revenue and existing revenue sources (taxes on the sales of new vehicles) to fund its transportation proposal.

We should note that Washington State already has the third highest gas tax in the country (at 49.4 cents per gallon) which is constitutionally protected to be used to fund transportation construction. Also, gas prices are expected to climb by an estimated 46 cents per gallon (and 59 cents per gallon of diesel) to pay for Governor Inslee’s expensive Cap and Trade legislation when it goes into effect in January.  And remember that the fees collected from the cap and trade increases are also being used to pay for the transportation package.

So, while the Democrats continue to brag that they did not raise gas taxes to pay for their extremely partisan and urban-focused transportation package, they conveniently forget to mention that 1) Washington already has one of the highest gas taxes in the country; 2) the Democrats substantially increased fees on basic services; and 3) the carbon cap and trade legislation will raise gas prices 46 cents a gallon next year.  (Washington State Senate Republican Caucus Facebook post, Washington Republican House Caucus Media Release, and Washington Policy Center)

Speaking of gas prices… the average price of gas in Washington State again climbed above $5.00 a gallon over the weekend thanks to the Democrats’ reckless and expensive energy policies.  Meanwhile Governor Inslee and Democrat legislators refuse to help lower- and middle- households who are facing financial difficulties by providing any type of gas tax relief. Republicans sought to help these families by supporting Ferndale State Senator Simon Sefzik’s “FUEL Act which would have used the state’s surplus revenues to fund a temporary suspension of the state’s 49.4 cents a gallon gas tax. Democrats refused to even hold a hearing on Senator Sefzik’s proposal. (AAA gas price chart and Shift’s Newsmaker Interview)

The video of a bipartisan collection of Snohomish County law enforcement leaders and elected officials calling for the repeal of the Democrats’ dangerous 2021 anti-police legislative package has not only drawn local media attention, but national media has begun to cover it as well. The five-minute video, produced by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office, features several city mayors (including a couple of prominent Democrats) and police chiefs in the county encouraging viewers to contact their state legislators to ask them to repeal laws restricting officers from pursuing suspected criminals or holding them for questioning. Nearly all of the local television news outlets have done stories on the video.  It has begun to receive national attention on Fox News and NewsNation, allowing national audiences to share our shock that Democrats in the Washington State Senate failed to support legislation during the 2022 session which would have allowed police to again pursuit suspected criminals.  Evidently Democrat legislators believe it is OK for thousands of suspected criminals to flee police questioning and remain free to make more crime victims out of innocent residents. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Facebook page and The Center Square)

Governor Inslee continues to ignore the science around the COVID virus, as the national Centers for Disease Control stated that masking is no longer required in healthcare facilities, yet the governor still requires masks in Washington State’s medical locations.  In the governor’s September 8^th announcement that he will finally end his 950+ day abuse of emergency powers on October 31^st (conveniently just before the midterm elections), the governor also announced that “the statewide Face Covering Order issued by the state Department of Health will remain in place for health care and long-term care sittings” even after other emergency declarations have ended on Halloween. (The Hill and Governor Inslee media release)

The mother of a young man who died from an overdose of fentanyl is frustrated by the lack of response she has received from Governor Inslee, as she seeks to make the public and elected officials aware of the severe problems associated with this dangerous drug.  Melanie Madden of Buckley said she has only received “generic-template” responses from the governor’s office as she attempts to convince lawmakers to do something about the flood of fentanyl into our country.  She says the number of people who die every two weeks in our country from a fentanyl overdose is equal to the number of people who died on 9/11 (almost 3,000). (KIRO Newsradio)

27 former and current City of Seattle firefighters who have filed two separate lawsuits claiming they were discriminated against when they sought religious exemptions from the Seattle Fire Department’s (SFD) COVID vaccine mandate.  Some 24 fired firefighters filed the first lawsuit, claiming statements made by department officials are proof that the offer of a religious exemption was “a sham” and that the city never intended to “accommodate” them even as they did accommodate those who requested medical exemptions.  Their lawsuit is seeking back pay and benefits, and attorney fees.  Three current firefighters say they are facing termination because the city refuses to respect their religious accommodations.  These firefighters are seeking a court order against their termination and reimbursement of attorney fees.   Staff shortages within the SFD has resulted in Seattle taxpayers paying nearly $38 million in overtime this year, while emergency response times have increased. (MyNorthwest and Seattle Times)

King County experienced its highest number of domestic violence murders during the economic lockdown of the state. Buried in the middle of a story on a specific murder case is the fact that King County Prosecutors recorded 30 domestic violence murders in 2020, the highest number since the office began keeping track in 1997.  As researchers continue to evaluate which methods of dealing with the pandemic were most effective, domestic violence cases, drug overdoses, suicides, and other negative actions will need to be included when evaluating the impact the economic lockdown Governor Inslee imposed on state residents. (MyNorthwest)

Spokane Councilmember Zach Zappone is receiving criticism for his proposed (and very gerrymandered) redistricting map of city council districts, which splits up existing precincts and neighborhoods, but selfishly benefits himself.  Councilmember Zappone barely won his 2021 election by just 272 votes (during which he showed his disregard for road safety laws by repeatedly riding his bike illegally through traffic while filming himself for campaign social media posts) and is now selfishly using his position as an “advisory member” of the city’s redistricting commission to benefit his own political future.

Councilmember Zappone represents the 3^rd Council District, which currently leans slightly to the liberals, but a moderate or conservative candidate could still win. Zappone’s partisan plan would increase the number of liberals in his district and make it less likely he would face strong opposition in the future. Zappone’s plan no longer uses I-90 (an obvious border between neighborhoods) to separate the other two council districts and instead uses Trent Avenue which cuts through many neighborhoods. It also splits the property of the iconic Spokane Club into two separate districts.

The redistricting commission has made public four proposed district maps (moderates and conservatives are supportive of map 1, which keeps neighborhoods together). On October 4^th the commission will take public comment on the maps and then recommend one map to the city council.  The council can then choose from any of the four maps.  (CM Zappone’s proposed map, Shift Article, and City of Spokane)

The Kennewick and Richland police departments and the Benton County Sheriff’s office worked together this past week to round up 28 suspected criminals, which law enforcement officials claim are responsible for more than 55 different criminal actions. The suspected repeat offenders have been charged with 27 felonies and 28 misdemeanors. (KEPR – TV)

Shift’s Newsmaker Interview was with community leader, business owner, and Marine veteran Dan Johnson, the 42^nd Legislative District Republican House candidate in the open Position 2 contest.  Johnson grew up in Whatcom County, where he owned and operated his family’s tow truck business until it was sold in 2019.  Johnson worked, as a private citizen in 2009 with then State Representative Doug Ericksen to write the strong DUI legislation known as “Hailey’s Law” (the legislation was revised in 2020 to incorporate a Washington State Supreme Court ruling). His campaign recently released a video of Johnson driving around Bellingham while describing how failed liberal crime, drug, and homeless policies have had a negative impact on the community.

In his Shift Interview, Johnson outlines his legislative agenda to reverse the Democrats’ disastrous anti-police package to “restore a safe living environment for our citizens”, implement meaningful emergency powers reform, and to provide Washington residents with tax relief by reducing the state’s property, sales, and fuel taxes.  Johnson also provides a timeless classic as one of his all-time favorite books. (Click to read full Newsmaker Interview)

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