Republicans offered Gov. Bob Ferguson an easy way to give Washington drivers some relief from the state’s sky-high gas prices: temporarily suspend the Climate Commitment Act and its costly cap-and-trade program. Ferguson’s response? Blame Donald Trump and keep collecting the money.

GOP State Sen. Chris Gildon proposed a temporary pause on the program, arguing it could cut gasoline prices by as much as 50 cents per gallon almost immediately. That’s not exactly a radical idea. When governments remove fuel taxes and fees, fuel prices tend to go down. Even Canada recently demonstrated that basic economic principle.

But instead of acknowledging that Washington’s climate policies are adding to the pain at the pump, Ferguson’s office dismissed the proposal and pointed the finger at President Trump and the conflict with Iran. Apparently, Democrats want voters to believe Washington’s gas prices are solely the result of international events—even though the state has consistently ranked among the most expensive places in America to buy gas long before the latest Middle East tensions.

The inconvenient fact for Democrats is that Washington drivers are paying roughly 52 cents per gallon because of the state’s carbon-pricing scheme, according to estimates cited by the Washington Policy Center. That’s real money coming directly out of family budgets and into state coffers.

And that’s where the resistance to suspending cap-and-trade becomes easier to understand. The program generated nearly $183 million in just one quarter this year. For Olympia, that’s a lot of cash to walk away from. For drivers, it’s another reminder that Democrats seem far more concerned about protecting government revenue streams than lowering costs for working families.

Climate activists, of course, insist the solution isn’t cheaper gas but even more spending on their preferred green-energy projects. Their argument boils down to the same message Washingtonians have heard for years: pay more now, trust us later.

Meanwhile, Washington drivers are left paying some of the highest gas prices in the nation while Democratic leaders perform political gymnastics to avoid admitting their own policies play a major role in the problem. When gas prices rise, Democrats blame oil companies, foreign conflicts, Republicans, or the weather. The one thing they never seem willing to blame is the expensive climate agenda they passed themselves. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

The Washington Policy Center recently highlighted a troubling trend that surfaced during this year’s legislative session: activists and lawmakers attacking Washington’s agricultural community while pushing new labor mandates on farms and ranches.

According to the Washington Policy Center, some supporters of forced collective bargaining proposals went so far as to portray farmers and ranchers as backward, uneducated, or even “plantation owners”—a bizarre accusation aimed at the very people who help feed the state and the nation.

The reality looks much different. Washington is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the country, with producers growing everything from apples and potatoes to wheat, hops, dairy products, and livestock. The state’s agricultural workforce is made up of people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, and many producers hold college degrees, embrace new technology, and compete in global markets.

Yet despite that diversity, farmers are often reduced to caricatures by progressive activists looking for a political villain.

As the Washington Policy Center points out, this rhetoric isn’t just inaccurate—it’s hypocritical. The same political movement that demands respect and sensitivity for virtually every other group seems perfectly comfortable stereotyping the men and women who produce our food.

Washington’s farmers and ranchers deserve better than being smeared by people who have never worked a day in agriculture but depend on its success every time they sit down for a meal. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

After Gov. Bob Ferguson took to social media to taunt state Rep. Jim Walsh about a potential 2028 gubernatorial run, Walsh fired back with a challenge Democrats rarely seem eager to accept: an actual debate on the issues.

Speaking on KIRO’s “John Curley Show,” Walsh brushed off Ferguson’s online jab and challenged the governor to a series of monthly Lincoln-Douglas-style debates with no notes, no staff, and no scripted talking points. Walsh said the topics should include public safety, education, transportation, taxes, budgets, and what he called Ferguson’s unconstitutional state income tax scheme.

Walsh suggested Ferguson might be more comfortable posting snarky comments online than defending his record in a head-to-head policy debate. He argued that Washington voters deserve a serious discussion about failing schools, crime, government spending, and the state’s growing tax burden.

The exchange comes as opponents of Washington’s new tax on high earners celebrate a major milestone. According to Walsh, nearly 100,000 signatures were gathered in the first week for an initiative seeking to repeal the tax.

Walsh believes that momentum is making Democrats nervous. He argued that voters are growing tired of what he described as Olympia’s tax-and-spend approach and that the strong response to the repeal effort signals a political shift in Washington.

For now, Ferguson has shown he’s willing to trade punches on social media. The question Walsh is asking is whether the governor is willing to step onto a debate stage and defend his policies without the benefit of a carefully crafted press release or a Twitter account. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

Seattle earned an unfortunate distinction in March: the worst-performing housing market among the 20 major cities tracked by the Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

Home prices in Seattle fell 2.5% compared to a year ago, the steepest decline in the nation and a stark contrast to markets like Chicago, New York, and Cleveland, which all posted gains. While much of the country is seeing sluggish growth, Seattle stands alone at the bottom of the rankings.

The numbers tell a story that should sound familiar to anyone paying attention to Washington’s economy. Despite median home prices still hovering near $1 million, buyer demand continues to weaken. At the same time, housing inventory has surged, with listings nearly doubling compared to normal levels.

Yet Olympia and Seattle leaders continue acting as if higher taxes, more regulations, and rising permit fees have no consequences.

According to the analysis, Washington’s capital gains tax, repeated fee increases on home construction, and ongoing economic uncertainty in the tech sector have all contributed to a shrinking pool of potential buyers. Meanwhile, local governments continue piling costs onto builders and developers while claiming they’re trying to improve affordability.

The result is the worst of both worlds: homes remain unaffordable for many families, while the market itself continues to soften.

For years, Democrats have promised that more government intervention would solve Seattle’s housing problems. Instead, buyers need roughly $219,000 in annual income to afford a median-priced home, inventory is piling up, and Seattle now sits at the bottom of the national housing rankings.

The Case-Shiller report is less a surprise than a report card. And after years of tax hikes, regulatory burdens, and anti-growth policies, Seattle’s political leadership just earned another failing grade. Read more at Seattle Red.