Happy New year.
The last week of 2016 ends with the last installment of Shift’s look at the lumps of coal which Jay Inslee put in taxpayer stockings at Christmas. Today we highlight the tax on out-of-state shoppers. Inslee must have forgotten that voters just rejected that tax in November – or maybe, he just doesn’t care, but needed to throw as many taxes out there as possible in his budget with hope some would stick.
Of course, since the Democrats in the State House have refused to support the taxes which Inslee proposed in each of the last four budgets he has put forward – as has the Majority Coalition Caucus in the State Senate – most observers assume Inslee’s plan is DOA.
Something that all Washingtonians can only hope won’t stick is the reprieve which Inslee provided to child rapist/murderer Clark Elmore. Inslee is letting his liberal agenda keep Elmore alive until the next governor takes office. Evidently we will have to wait until then for justice.