The Washington Supreme Court just handed Democrat lawmakers exactly what they wanted: no referendum on the state’s new income tax. By upholding the “necessity clause,” the court confirmed that Democrats can shield major tax increases from a direct vote simply by declaring them essential to government operations.

Chief Justice Debra Stephens’s ruling accepts that argument at face value—even though the tax won’t bring in a dime until 2029. In other words, “urgent” apparently means “someday.” Notably, the court didn’t even disclose how the justices split on the decision—just a blanket order backing the law.

The paper trail makes the strategy obvious. State lawyers advised lawmakers that without the clause, voters could force a referendum. So they added it—ensuring the public wouldn’t get a say. That’s not speculation, it’s documented in their own emails.

Attorney General Nick Brown’s office calls this routine. In practice, it’s a clear workaround to block voters from weighing in on a major tax increase.

Now, the only path forward is an initiative—requiring roughly double the signatures. Translation: the barrier to undo the tax just got significantly higher.

Bottom line: the income tax is protected, the referendum is dead, and voters are sidelined while Olympia locks in one of the biggest policy changes in years. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

In a new op-ed, Charlie Harger, host of Seattle’s Morning News, lays out a clear pattern: leaders in Seattle and Olympia are increasingly treating the press as something to manage, not answer. From Mayor Katie Wilson brushing off tough questions at press conferences to Governor Bob Ferguson’s office bottlenecking media responses, the result is the same—less transparency and fewer real answers for the public.

Reporters are being told to stay “on topic,” physically blocked by staff, or brushed aside when they push on uncomfortable issues. At the state level, it goes further: Ferguson’s policy requires agencies to get approval before responding to nearly any media inquiry—interviews, press releases, even follow-ups. The delays are so severe that agencies miss deadlines or are told to avoid certain topics altogether.

The most telling detail: agencies were explicitly instructed not to tell reporters the policy even exists. Internal emails show a system where the governor’s office controls the message—and wants that control kept quiet.

Harger’s point is straightforward: in a one-party state, the press is supposed to be the check on power. When elected officials start managing access, dodging questions, and controlling responses, that check weakens—and the public is left in the dark. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

Washington drivers are getting crushed at the pump, with gas prices blowing past records and now averaging over $5.67 statewide—and nearly $6 in Seattle. In some areas, it’s even worse. The gap between Washington and the rest of the country has ballooned, with drivers paying more than a dollar above the national average.

This isn’t a mystery—it’s policy. The state’s Climate Commitment Act alone is adding roughly 50–60 cents per gallon, while gas taxes have climbed to 55.4 cents and are set to increase automatically every year. Stack it all together, and Washington drivers are paying more than $1.17 per gallon in state-imposed costs before even accounting for the fuel itself.

That’s why Washington now sits near the top of the most expensive states for gas—far above neighbors like Idaho, which don’t have the same carbon pricing scheme.

Meanwhile, other states have offered relief through temporary gas tax holidays. Washington hasn’t. Instead, drivers are left footing the bill for policies that continue to push prices higher with no off-ramp in sight.

The result is exactly what you’d expect: record prices, widening disparities, and working families paying the price every time they fill up. Read more at Center Square.

In a repeat of earlier this week, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller has again blocked key parts of Washington’s sheriff decertification law, granting a second preliminary injunction in a separate lawsuit. The ruling stops the state from enforcing requirements that would have barred candidates like Kitsap County hopeful Rick Kuss from running—specifically the mandate for five consecutive years of law enforcement experience.

Schaller made it clear the law goes too far, pointing out that running for office is a fundamental right and that these new rules impose burdens no other elected officials face. The law also raised serious concerns by allowing state agencies to scrutinize candidates’ backgrounds, including social media and associations.

Timing was critical. Without the injunction, candidates would have been shut out during the narrow May filing window—effectively deciding elections before voters ever had a say.

State officials are already rushing to appeal, but for now, the courts have delivered the same message twice: Olympia doesn’t get to control who voters are allowed to choose. Read more at Center Square.

Michael Baumgartner is officially running for reelection—and he’s making the case the old-fashioned way: by getting out of Washington, D.C. and into Washington state. The Spokane Republican kicked things off with a “12 Counties in 12 Days” tour, hitting every corner of his district to meet directly with voters.

He’s not running on promises—he’s running on a record. Baumgartner backed the major tax-cut package signed by Donald Trump, locking in relief for working families, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and expanding breaks for small businesses and seniors. He helped move the first Farm Bill through the House in years, secured funding for Fairchild Air Force Base, pushed legislation to ban congressional stock trading, and passed a bill targeting foreign influence in U.S. universities with bipartisan support.

His message is straightforward: Eastern Washington sent him to fight for their priorities, and that’s exactly what he’s doing—whether it’s lowering costs, supporting rural communities, or pushing back on policies coming out of a Democrat-controlled D.C.

With a crowded primary ahead, Baumgartner is leaning into visibility and results—arguing that representation isn’t something you do from behind a desk, but something you earn by showing up. Read more at Seattle Red.

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