It really is this stark: Yesterday Governor Inslee chose his political donors over home health care workers’ constitutional freedoms by forcing those workers into the SEIU 775 union. SEIU, a huge donor to liberal candidates, will get a nice return on its investment while keeping the dues money flowing. Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said, “His [Governor Inslee’s] signature on Senate Bill 6199 today is an affront to workers’ constitutional rights and it shows that he really cares more about giving their hard-earned money to a union who donates to his campaign.” (The Olympian)

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the Trump Administration again, this time over the administration’s inclusion of a question about citizenship on the 2020 U.S. Census. Of the lawsuit, Ferguson said the question could “undermine its {the census] constitutional mandate…” (KXLY)

The transportation package Gov. Inslee signed includes money to look into converting state ferries from diesel to electric. Legislators allocated $600,000 for Washington State Ferries to study the conversion. (Seattle Times)

Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) will not seek re-election. Nelson spent five years as leader and, following House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen (R-Snohomish), is the second “four corners” leader to retire this year. Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle) hailed Nelson for her “great recruiting and steadfast fundraising.” (Seattle Times)

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant is starting a new group – Forge Washington – to focus on supporting and encouraging candidates to local office. “County councils, city councils are making decisions on whether we want publicly-funded heroin injection sites in our neighborhoods,” Bryant said. “School boards are deciding whether we’re going to be open to innovation reform in the classroom or not.” (MyNorthwest)

The race to succeed retiring Rep. Norm Johnson (R-Yakima) is heating up, with two more tossing their hats in the ring. Yakima Mayor Kathy Coffey announced Monday she will run as a Republican, while Liz Hallock, a lawyer and owner of Sweet Relief Cannabis boutique in Yakima, will run as a Democrat for the seat. Republican Garth McKinney, vice president of Maher Property Management, got into the race before Johnson announced his retirement. (Yakima Herald)

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