KOMO News’ latest report, “The Fight for the Soul of Seattle,” clearly reveals the destructive failure of the liberal politicians in charge of city government.  While homelessness, crime, and drug addiction run rampant on the city’s streets, Seattle’s liberal politicians use the city’s problems to push for more radical policies and more tax increases, which do little to solve the city’s worsening problems – in fact, many measures only make matters worse. Meanwhile, thousands continue to live a cruel existence on Seattle’s streets, thanks to a generation of failed feel-good policies. (Shift Article and KOMO’s “The Fight for the Soul of Seattle”)

Rumor has it that Governor Jay Inslee is expected to release his next budget proposal on Thursday, December 17^th (he is legally required to submit this by December 20^th).  Shift has been providing some good ideas (such as providing families with funds to offset some of the cost of educating students at home) which we do not expect to be included in the governor’s proposed July 2021 – June 2023 budget, and some bad ideas (like his state income tax on capital gains, and a low carbon fuel standard) which we unfortunately do expect to be in that proposal. Here is the latest in Inslee’s budget rollout week.

Governor Inslee ignores our shaky economy, announces over $360 million in new government spending on “equity”, an emergency which he has evidently made worse over his 8 years in office. Included in the massive new spending package are numerous items that will increase the size, power, and cost of state government, such as a new “Equity Office” and an office to “investigate excessive police force.”  Also, the governor plans to reward liberal special interest groups by handing “community groups” more taxpayer money.  There are numerous items where the governor is seeking to expand government’s control over businesses, with regulations for insurance companies, lending companies, and government vendors.  The governor also plans to keep spending state dollars to assist non-citizens who are not covered by federal programs. There are numerous very vague items in the package (such as “invest to close the digital divide” and “advance equity on school campuses”), which can only result in more government employees and regulations.  Of course, the governor cannot let any budget opportunity go to waste without throwing even more taxpayer money at his failed climate policies, this time saying we need to “invest in environmental justice.”

Like many previous grandiose proposals from Governor Inslee, this “equity package” provides no method to measure its success, for it is not actually meant to solve any pressing problems.  The package is designed to increase the size of government (thus providing even more state employees and their dues for Inslee’s big labor cronies) and financially reward his political supporters in liberal special interest groups.  Even retired liberal columnist Joel Connelly mocked the governor and his latest expensive “empty suit” proposal in a tweet.  Connelly posted, “Classic Jay Inslee hyperbole: “We want to see the arc of the moral universe move forward,” followed moments later by, “I haven’t set a goal line.”  (Governor Inslee Press Release and Joel Connelly Twitter)

Quick Note: The Oregon legislature will convene its third special legislative session of 2020 next Monday.  Meanwhile Washington State Governor Jay Inslee continues his one-man rule and denying the legislative branch the ability to represent the will of the people. Seems like the media might notice something like that. (The Hill)

Governor Inslee, who previously had stated he was unwilling to meet with legislative leaders due to health concerns, apparently didn’t feel those fears were valid when he unnecessarily presided over the much-hyped counting of Washington State’s electoral votes.  In the governor’s latest demonstration of hypocrisy, Inslee met with the 12 Democrat activists (who were casting their electoral ballots) in the same State Senate chamber which Republican lawmakers had previously suggested for their meeting to take place.   We should note that in Washington State history, the governor rarely, if ever, attends this ceremonial event. But, a camera was there, so was Jay. (Seattle Times)

Washington State Republican leaders showed Democrats how it could be done, condemning the threat of physical violence against election officials.  As opposed to Democrats, who seemingly only condemn political violence when it is aimed at liberals (and never when far-left activists are the ones conducting the violence, like during this summer’s multiple attacks on Seattle police officers and businesses), Republicans have consistently spoken out against all acts of violence.  House Republican Leader JT Wilcox and new Senate Republican Leader John Braun issued a joint release condemning the threat of politically motivated violence, “We have recently seen shocking evidence of a threat to a Washington state election official – including a picture, home address and personal contact information – on a national website. The harassment and threats to state election officials must stop. We categorically denounce these actions and any threats of political violence.”  Washington State Republican Chair Caleb Heimlich posted a tweet stating “Violent threats and intimidation tactics have no place in our public discourse. I strongly condemn all forms of political violence. We should settle our disputes via peaceful protest and voting, not violence.” (Wilcox/Braun joint statement and Caleb Heimlich Twitter)

State Senator Mark Schoesler (R – Ritzville) reflected on his eight years as Senate Republican Leader in a Spokesman-Review op-ed.  Sen. Schoesler announced earlier this month that he is stepping down as the caucus’ leader to focus on serving the 9^th Legislative District (Southeast corner of Washington State).  Schoesler spoke fondly of his first year as caucus leader, when two Democrat senators joined the Republicans in 2013, forming the Majority Coalition Caucus.  During the next five years, the Senate had bi-partisan support in tackling K-12 education and transportation funding issues.  They were also able to reduce college tuition for the first time in state history, over Democrat objections.  In the 2018 legislative session, after a special election had replaced the late Sen. Andy Hill with a basic tax-and-spend Democrat, Republicans were once again in the minority and their focus centered on protecting the state’s taxpayers. Since then, the caucus has been successful in defeating Governor Inslee and the Democrats’ continuous proposals to implement a state income tax on capital gains.  Schoesler was particularly proud that Republicans have also been able to defeat Governor Inslee’s expensive Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which could increase the cost of gas an estimated 47 – 63 cents a gallon, and dramatically impact the cost of transporting Eastern Washington crops to market.  (Spokesman-Review)

Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold called the police department to report a crime against her property which her own pending controversial measure would throw out of court.  Herbold is attempting to make poverty, mental health, and drug addiction a legal defense for many crimes in Seattle.  Last Friday, Herbold called the Seattle Police (which she recently attempted to defund by 50%, but had to settle for only an 18% reduction this time) after someone threw a brick against her West Seattle home.  The irony is that this type of vandalism would not be prosecuted in Seattle courts if Herbold’s proposal is passed by the council, assuming the defendant could claim one of the measure’s very broad exceptions. (MyNorthwest and Shift Newsmaker Interview)

While the Seattle City Council slashed its police department’s budget by 18% and levied a wage tax on over 800 of its businesses, the City of Bellevue increased its law enforcement budget by $2 million and eliminated a $16 million budget deficit without raising taxes.  There is a clear difference in philosophy in the two cities that border Lake Washington.  As one city chooses to punish businesses and law enforcement, the other understands the importance of employers and public safety in maintaining a prosperous and safe community. Joe Fain, President and CEO of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce (and subject of a recent Shift Newsmaker Interview), stated “No region, no city can take advantage of their workforce or their company base. You see the consequences of those cities that do. I see the Eastside, as a whole, setting a different example for how the public sector and the private sector work together.” (The Lens and Joe Fain’s Shift Interview)

Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward tweeted a picture of herself along with four new members of the Spokane Police Department, all of whom were former officers for the City of Seattle.  In August, Woodward announced that the City of Spokane would be hiring new police officers and it would welcome applications from cities which were defunding their police forces.  Woodward said the latest hires were “a big win for Spokane.” (Nadine Woodward Twitter)

The Airway Heights Correction Facility in Spokane County is the latest state-run facility to experience a large outbreak of the coronavirus.  Reports are that over 800 inmates and staff in Airway Heights have been infected with the virus.  Almost all state-run correctional and hospital facilities have failed to follow the state’s own pandemic guidelines to protect residents and staff from COVID-19. (KXLY)

As Republican officials continue to condemn all types of political violence (see Wilcox/Braun story above), Democrats continue to use the violence for selfish gains and refuse to even acknowledge (let alone condemn) the violence committed by their supporters.  Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D – Medina) has joined Governor Inslee and Washington State Democrat Chair Tina Podlodowski is sending out fundraising emails to capitalize on a mentally disturbed individual who chose to set a fire in the Spokane Democrat offices (because it was the closest political office he could find).  Yet, like Inslee and Podlodowski, DelBene was silent this past summer as liberal activists set fire to businesses and committed numerous assaults on Seattle Police officers – including a failed attempt at mass murder by sealing in police personnel in the East Precinct and attempting to set fire to the building.  If Congresswoman DelBene is so committed to stopping political violence, we look forward to her thoughtful emails of support for those businesses destroyed by violence coming from the political Left. (DelBene fundraising email)

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