Democrats released their budget yesterday, proposing $3 billion in new taxes – but refusing to vote on them. One tax proposed is a 7% capital-gains tax for earnings over $25,000 for single filers and $50,000 for joint filers. Funny enough, Senate Democrats refused to vote for a capital gains tax just last Friday…

Kim Wyman, Secretary of State, is set to undergo treatment for colon cancer. Our prayers are with Kim and her family during this time. Assistant Secretary Mark Neary is set to fill-in for Kim’s day-to-day responsibilities during the treatments.

Seattle finally says good-bye to the bike-share program, Pronto! after it fails to perform. After wasting two years of funding and resources on the program, the City of Seattle is ending operations. Not only did Seattle under-estimate the cost of the bike-share program, a trend in transportation departments around the Sound, they paid the extra $305,000 in operating costs without disclosing the extra cost to taxpayers for weeks after the check was signed. It’s about time they shut it down.

Mayor Ed Murray is “willing to risk losing every penny of federal funding,” to keep Seattle a sanctuary city. This statement comes after Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned sanctuary cities that they must follow federal law in order to continue receiving grants from the US Justice Department.

Restaurant owners in Seattle are beginning to voice their opposition to Mayor Murray’s proposed soda tax. Burger Boss Drive-In in White Center made their displeasure clear by utilizing the sign outside of their restaurant. Ryan Hopkins, of Burger Boss Drive-In, explained to KIRO, “If I’m going to keep the same margins on the soda… my $2.50 jumbo soda is now going to be over $5 with tax.”

 King County rents have risen 57% in the last six years. The average rent is now $1,749 a month, which is $635 higher than when studies were done in 2011 on rent averages. Seattle expects to add 9,000 more apartments in 2017, with even more planned in the two years following.

Four complaints about WSU violating Title IX have been opened. The complaints began in 2014 with the most recent filing on March 20. The complaints involve accusations of sexual violence and hostility, but the university has yet to release any information to the public regarding the cases.

Spokane floods may have caused $9 million in road and bridge damage. Initial estimates of $1 million in damage are much lower than what is now being reported. The county winter road-maintenance budget of $3.5 million has already been used. Despite an application, no word from FEMA yet on whether or not more funding will be sent to Spokane.

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