ONCE AGAIN, GOV. INSLEE’S VOTE-COUNTING PROBLEMS HAVE OLYMPIA INSIDERS SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS.
INSLEE ANNOUNCES NEW DEMOCRAT DRUG DEAL – WILL THIS ONE ALSO GO BAD?
The same governor who applauded the last drug deal that Democrats tried in Olympia – with Shift highlighting its implosion on the last day of the legislative session after Governor Jay Inslee offered his full-throated support – has done it again. This time, according to public radio, he’s convinced he has overcome those pesky Republicans (who have no control over the agenda as the minority party in Olympia) and has a backroom, Democrat-only drug deal ready to go, which caused Senate Republican Leader John Braun to note that the “governor had indicated he would not call a special session until legislative leaders reached an agreement that is worth bringing in front of each chamber. To be clear, we’re not to that point yet.”
Gov. Inslee ignored the lack of an actual deal to announce a special session starting May 16, to give Democrats two weeks to raise campaign cash before such a gathering will re-impose a public official fundraising freeze (especially on those unleashed governor wannabes, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz). The problem will be that, in two weeks, what will have changed in the fight between far-Left Democrats who want no punishment of public drug users and regular Left-wing Democrats who want to give public drug users a warning as punishment? After all, the Seattle Times reported that pro-drug Representative Roger Goodman “is encouraged that ‘we’re now communicating on paper, so there’s no goal posts being moved at the last minute and no miscommunication,’’ as if lying among Democrats was the reason for the failure during the session.
It’s clear where the GOP is on public safety, with new House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary pointing out that “House Republicans remain committed to passing statewide legislation that provides opportunities for those who are willing to undergo treatment and accountability for those who aren’t. However, we will not support a bill that falls short of either of these goals and simultaneously prevents local governments from enacting their own solutions.” You can read more about pending Democrat fun with drugs here… Shift, KUOW, Sen. Braun, Rep. Stokesbary, Seattle Times.
SECRETARY OF STATE STRUGGLES FOR ATTENTION, FOCUSES ON CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
It’s well know that accidental Secretary of State Steve Hobbs only has his job because (as Shift has noted) Jay Inslee desperately wanted someone making even more partisan votes in the state senate than Hobbs. Now stashed away in an office he is not qualified to lead – succeeding a series of Republican election professionals voted into the office since 1964 – Secretary Hobbs has found his calling in trying to find new voters for Washington Democrats, starting in state prisons.
As the Seattle Times writes, “Hobbs’ civics-in-prison course will be part of his broad effort to engage populations often overlooked in voter outreach, particularly low-income and Native communities.” The secretary is able to do this because of the “law in 2021 allowing the reinstatement of voting rights immediately upon release from prison; 24,650 Washingtonians become newly eligible.” You can read more about Secretary Hobbs’ get-out-the-vote work here… Shift, Seattle Times.
ARREST PEOPLE FOR BREAKING THE LAW – WHAT A CONCEPT
The public desire for more laws which actually improve public safety is announcing its reach once again in Spokane, according to the Spokesman-Review, as the “Spokane Police Department wants to regain the authority to arrest people who are in city parks after hours.” Turns out that the type of people who like to hang around in parks after dark also tend to be those who like violent and illegal activities.
As Police Captain Thomas Hendren told the Spokane City Council, “We need to gain control of the parks.” To that end, an ordinance re-establishing police authority to arrest those he described as “engaging in violent and other illegal activity overnight at local parks” has been introduced. To read more about liberal attempts to water down any pro-police legislation (we’re looking at you, Councilman Breean Beggs), read here… Spokesman-Review.
REPUBLICAN CALLS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, DEMOCRATS LAUGH AT PUBLIC FROM BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
State Representative Peter Abbarno took to the pages of the (Tacoma) News Tribune to point out one of the Democrats’ dirty little secrets: they really don’t like people watching what they doing, especially with your money. That’s why he suggests “the time has come for the Legislature to begin addressing the public’s and media’s concerns over transparency and accessibility issues with a Washington Office of Transparency Ombuds.”
The representative’s proposal is likely doomed under the strictly partisan Democrat control that exists in Olympia today, though his words might make sense to at least some liberals, that “it’s incumbent on us as policymakers to make information — information that belongs to the public — as open and transparent as possible so that citizens can make informed decisions about the future of our great state.” To understand why Democrats might not want the public to know more about their actions, read here… Tacoma News Tribune
AUBURN WOULD LIKE SOME PROTECTION, PLEASE
Thanks to the Democrats’ statewide anti-police policies, communities across Washington are feeling the impacts of crime which used to be reserved for just the largest downtowns. The latest problem area to surface, as KIRO 7 reports, is in Auburn, with small business owners “pleading with city councilmembers to address ever-growing concerns surrounding public safety.” As one said, “It is lawless here. We are made empty promises and ultimately must do what is necessary to protect ourselves, and those who rely on us.” Read more about the Democrats’ unintended consequences here… KIRO 7.
CHASING DOWN THE COVID CYBER CRIMINALS FROM SPOKANE
The full cost of COVID-related fraud will likely never known, which is just fine with a Jay Inslee administration that was a leader (as Shift has noted) in shoveling out public money to anyone early in the pandemic. But investigations are happening, and as Crosscut has found out, when one federal bureaucrat described the approach as “let’s send all the money out … and you all can go chase the money if it gets in the wrong hands”, you now need the people doing the chasing. And, you can read why it’s happening in Eastern Washington here… Shift, Crosscut.
THE PARTY LINE IS IN: IT’S EARLY, BUT IT’S WINNABLE
The good news that Gov. Inslee will not run again has not yet been replaced by better news about who would replace him that would not be committed to the same failed liberal agenda which has guided the state for 40 years. However, as pointed out by KUOW, and State Republican Party Chairman Caleb Heimlich, “Republicans got close in the last two open seat races for governor.”
You can read more about how “getting the ‘right’ candidate is just the first step” here… KUOW.
OVERHEARD ON THE INTERWEBS...
JUST ANOTHER DAY OF STUNNING INCOMPETENCE IN THE OFFICE OF AG BOB FERGUSON – AKA BOBBIE SUE
A POTHOLE SO BIG EVEN BOB FERGUSON CAN’T EXPLORE ALL OF IT
JUST LIKE SHIFT SAID YESTERDAY – FOLLOW THE RULES, BOBBIE SUE
SUPPORT THE DAILY BRIEFING...
Please consider making a contribution to ensure Shift continues to provide daily updates on the shenanigans of the liberal establishment.
Forward this to a friend. It helps us grow our community and serve you better.
You can also follow SHIFTWA on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
If you feel we missed something that should be covered, email us at [email protected].