(Ed. Note: The State Legislature is meeting over this holiday weekend to try and move some truly bad bills through while few are watching. Today we share an opinion editorial that highlights one such stinker.) 

No one is arguing with the fact that Washington state, and especially the central Puget Sound region, has a real problem with housing affordability. But some of the ideas being tossed around in Olympia show a fundamental lack of understanding of the causes of this problem and how higher taxes will harm the local economy.

House Bill 1628 is a proposal to raise the real estate excise tax (REET), taking our state tax from a tie for the highest in the nation into the dubious position of having far and away the costliest REET in the land. Additionally, it would allow local governments to increase their REET by 50 percent. All told, if HB 1628 were enacted, the combined state and local REET taxes would top out at 4.75%.

What’s the goal behind this massive tax hike? To generate money for more government programs to provide affordable housing! Read more.

The Seattle Times took to its own editorial page to lament the “difficult policy choices” forced upon regional leaders over a problem largely of the liberals’ own making – illegal drug overdoses in facilities meant to help the homeless. No one can dispute the tragedy of homelessness – fueled by the legalization of hard drugs by Washington State Democrats in 2021 – which is consuming government budgets and community social services. The Times notes that “seven people lost their lives to substance use” at one Seattle housing location in 2022, and that residents “are not evicted for consuming substances. ‘All of our services are voluntary. The key piece to a housing-first approach is that people don’t have to engage in those services in order to stay here,” explained one bureaucrat for why the overdose deaths have not caused much concern.

King County Councilman Reagan Dunn offered an alternative idea: “homeless individuals who are not interested in treatment should be offered congregate shelter — a bed in a non-private space — with an apartment in permanent supportive housing as an incentive to accept help. ‘The question is, how hard-line do we want to be? I don’t think we’re being hard-line enough. There’s an element of tough love that’s missing from our global homeless set of solutions here in Seattle.’” Or, we just keep throwing more millions on the fire. (Seattle Times)

Say what you will about the current “leaders” in the city of Seattle, but they must be working overtime to come up with more ways to keep downtown offices from filling back up with employees.  While workers in cities across the country are returning to their offices, Geekwire reports that “(V)acancy rates for office space in the Seattle region jumped to 11.2% in the first quarter of 2023, up from 10.5% in the previous quarter and nearly double pre-pandemic levels.” Evidently knowing that you have to avoid feces, or a body, or tents blocking the sidewalk might keep you away from an office and working remotely until something is cleaned up. (GeekWire)

The saga of Lynnwood City Councilman Joshua Binda, who has used his short time in office to ring up an impressive collection of ethics and financial complaints over using his public position for personal gain, has taken the next step of a formal recall committee. According to the Lynnwood Times, “(R)esidents disappointed with Lynnwood Councilman Joshua Binda in his illegal campaign activities, pending ethics investigations, and most recently posting sexually suggestive pictures to minors, have officially filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission to recall the council member.” As one resident sadly notes, “It is the duty of Lynnwood residents to recall City Council member Joshua Binda from the Lynnwood City Council and restore integrity to our city.” We’ll keep you posted. (Lynnwood Times)

In a preview of what undoubtedly will be a drawn-out and expensive legal drama, the Seattle Times featured the latest government transportation waste snafu in the Puget Sound region: SeaTac’s billion-dollar International Arrivals Facility, proudly opened last year, actually doesn’t work. And so, the finger pointing begins (although it’s years in the making, and just now seeping out thanks to public records requests), with the Port of Seattle telling a court the construction error leaves Sea-Tac “with an international-flight capacity problem that this project was originally intended to solve.” Of course, the contractor suggests the “current gate configuration is consistent with the Port-approved concourse study and meets the specifications and requirements per our contract.” Lawyers, start your billing clocks. (Seattle Times)

BUT JAY INSLEE SAID CAP AND TAX WOULD COST “PENNIES”

FOR DEMOCRATS, THAT “EXCESS COMPENSATION” IN YOUR WALLET IS WHAT THEY HAVEN’T TAKEN FROM YOU, YET

DEMOCRAT LEGISLATORS CONTINUE THEIR WORK HELPING CAR THIEVES SUCCEED

To get early insight into what might make Shift’s next Daily Briefing worth reading, tune in to 570 KVI on your AM dial weekday mornings at 8:05, to hear John Carlson talk Washington State legislative politics with Shift co-founder Randy Pepple. And you can always stay for the rest of the Commute with Carlson by tuning in here.

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