The Washington State Supreme Court (WASC) is on the verge of approving new public defense standards proposed by the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA), which could lead to many criminals escaping charges and punishment. The move appears to be nothing more than a deliberate effort by some public defenders to let offenders off the hook. The new standards drastically cut the number of cases public defenders can take, making it nearly impossible to prosecute many crimes. This effectively decriminalizes various offenses, endangering public safety and ignoring victims’ rights.

The proposal, limiting public defenders to 47 felony or 120 misdemeanor cases a year, comes at a time when there’s already a critical shortage of attorneys in the state. This shortage has forced the release of dangerous individuals due to the unavailability of defense attorneys. If implemented, these changes will cripple the criminal justice system, failing to protect the community and hold criminals accountable. As KTTH’s Jason Rantz recently explained, as the WASC weighs this decision, the future of public safety in our state is at serious risk. Read more at KTTH.com.

The Seattle Times interviewed gubernatorial candidates on improving Washington’s public education, including Bob Ferguson and Dave Reichert, the likely general election contenders. As could be expected, Ferguson reiterated his support for the new capital gains income tax, arguing it will further increase public school funding, despite already high funding levels per student. In other words, Ferguson’s stance on education focuses on an additional tax on top of the already substantial funding increases for public education.

How do we know that mere funding increases is not an actual solution? Despite substantial funding increases through recent years, academic performance and college-going rates remain low. Of course, Ferguson’s vision for education also overlooks the benefits of school choice and alternative educational pathways, which offer more tailored and effective education solutions for students.

Dave Reichert, on the other hand, opposes the capital gains tax and supports Initiative 2109, emphasizing that education funding should follow the student, allowing parents to choose the best educational options, including public charter schools. Reichert also advocates for more trade programs, citing the high cost of college and the need for more vocational training in fields like healthcare. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

State Sen. Manka Dhingra – who lied about her employment as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with King County – really, really wants to be the next state Attorney General. Recent PDC filings reveal that she contributed $250,000 of her personal wealth to her attorney general campaign, leveling the financial playing field with her Democratic rival, former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. According to the Washington Observer, Dhingra and her spouse, Harjit Singh, who is well-established in the tech industry, have an estimated wealth exceeding $10 million. Both Dhingra and Brown raised over $1 million for their campaigns, with significant contributions from far-left PACs. Unfortunately, comparatively, Republican candidate Pete Serrano is lagging in fundraising with just $220K raised. Read more at the Washington Observer.

Just another day of Dow Constantine passing the blame for his failures…

 

The answer is no, Jay Inslee has no shame…

Geez, wonder why businesses are leaving Seattle…

Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:

• Episode 1:We called in Amy Harris from Red Strategies to discuss the ins and outs of campaign finance. We cover everything from the importance of funding to the challenges of small-dollar donations and those pesky fundraising texts.
• Episode 2: Raul Garcia joined us during his Freedom From Fentanyl Walk, sharing his family’s personal battle with addiction and discussing broader strategies to tackle this crisis. His firsthand experience is both inspiring and urgent.
• Episode 3:Michael Baumgartner spoke candidly about his run for Washington’s 5th congressional district, touching on key issues like the fentanyl crisis, border security, and even the complexities of the Jones Act.

Subscribe now and don’t miss out on these critical discussions!

Voting for Washington’s 2024 primary election is underway. Voters must return ballots to drop boxes or voting centers by 8 p.m. on August 6. Mailed ballots need to be postmarked by August 6, and the USPS recommends mailing them a week prior. It’s worth noting – all 39 counties have races on their ballots, with 654 offices and 94 local measures up for decision. Voters can check ballot status and drop box locations online!

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