Welcome to the first afternoon edition of Shift!

By moving our distribution time, we hope it is more convenient for you to read.  As we go through various changes in the next few weeks, we will be seeking your input.  You can always let us know your thoughts by simply replying to our emails.

We will be adding several new features in the coming weeks. We will have interviews with state and local elected officials, activists, candidates, policy makers, and possibly journalists.  We will be doing regular features on the bizarre comments liberals make in the emails to their donors and questioning the objectivity of media reports. We are planning short book reviews and occasionally looking at the national political scene.  We have a couple of other surprises in store, so keep watching your emails in the afternoon.

Again, your input is very important.  Please let us know any ideas you might have to make Shift a more useful publication for you.  Reply to this email with any suggestions you have.

Cheers!

The Gang at Shift

This week’s newest tax from local Democrats comes courtesy of Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, who wants to impose an additional $5 tax on home and auto insurance premiums. The estimated annual revenue of $76 million will be additional funding to fight forest fires. This new tax would be implemented despite the fact tax revenues have already been significantly increased every year Franz has been in office.  An effective Land Commissioner would have been able to convince Democrat legislators that fighting fires was worthy of being included in the state budget.  (Seattle Times)

Another effort to raise fees is coming from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), which is attempting to raise an additional $26 million for next year. The department will be asking the legislature to raise hunting and fishing fees as to avoid what WDFW Director Kelly Susewind calls “catastrophic” cuts to the department. As state proceeds have dramatically increased over the past few years, the Democrat legislature has previously not considered the work of WDFW worthy enough to support with this new revenue. (Spokesman-Review)

A new report from the Washington Office of Financial Management is recommending a centralized system for background checks for gun purchases.  The current system performs over 400,000 checks annually by 200 local law enforcement departments. (iFIBER One)

Despite frequent criticism from a few local bicyclists, Washington state ranks the best state for being “bicycle-friendly.”  This distinction comes from the League of American Bicyclists which graded many factors to once again recognize Washington with the honor.  Washington is just ahead of Oregon, Minnesota, and California. (MyNorthwest)

The Seattle area is in the top four U.S. cities for cannabis use by those over 18.  According to the market research firm Nielson, 17% of adults in Seattle-Tacoma area have used cannabis in the past 30 days.  Seattle is only behind Portland, Las Vegas and Denver.  Cannabis even outpaced nicotine use, which Nielson reports is being consumed by 16% of adults in the region. (Seattle Times)

The Seattle-Tacoma region ranks fifth in the country for porch theft in the country.  According to a national study by Safewise, approximately 23 packages out of a thousand are stolen outside people’s front doors (the national average is just less than 16 packages out of 1000).  The Puget Sound region is only behind the Bay Area, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Baltimore.  Here are eight ways suggested by Safewise you can help reduce porch theft.  (Safewise)

A tent ban for Tacoma parks which was supposed to begin on Sunday has been pushed back to mid-December.  In October, the Tacoma City Council passed an ordinance to ban all camping in city parks. The ban will be enforced starting on December 19^th, once the new Tiny House Village is opened which will provide housing for up to 35 individuals. (MyNorthwest)

The Spokane City Council will consider two major “tenant protections” at next week’s council meeting. The first will be to require landlords to pay $2,000 to assist tenant’s relocation due to rent increases.  The second will force landlords to cite one of seven reasons for evicting tenants. Evidently affordable housing is not a concern for a city council which would rather impose new regulations on taxpayers. (Spokesman Review)

Washington’s tenth largest city, Spokane Valley, joins Spokane in banning a city income tax. By a unanimous vote of 7-0, the city council voted to prohibit a future income tax from being imposed by the city on its 100,000 inhabitants.  This vote follows neighboring Spokane’s recent 72% support on Proposition 2 to ban an income tax in itas city. (Washington Policy Center)

Making international news, the much anticipated “Cosmic Crisp” apples will be hitting the store shelves this week.  The new strain of apple was developed by Washington State University through grants from the Washington Apple Growers.   According to farmers the new apple can keep in storage up to a year. (FOX News)

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