Jay Inslee is at it again, proving he can’t resist turning smugness into an art form. At a U.N. climate conference, he took a victory lap over Initiative 2117’s defeat, calling its supporters “miscreants” and “climate deniers.” Classy. This is the same guy who swore his cap-and-trade scheme would only add “pennies” to gas prices, only for his own data to reveal he’d played Washingtonians for fools. When citizens tried to take the issue to the ballot, Inslee and his allies spent millions on a propaganda blitz to bury the initiative in misinformation — because, clearly, facts weren’t on their side.

Now, instead of letting voters’ rejection speak for itself, Inslee gloats as if passing an unpopular policy in one of the bluest states in the country is some grand achievement. His bitterness over the challenge says it all: he knows his environmental record is all hot air, no substance. Case in point? His Climate Commitment Act doesn’t even track whether it reduces CO2 emissions — the one thing it’s supposed to do. But hey, who needs results when you can just insult anyone who disagrees with your eco-fantasy?

In typical Inslee fashion, it’s all condescension, no persuasion. Why win over skeptics when you can just steamroll them? Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

In yet another chapter of Jay Inslee’s mismanagement saga, Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) allowed nearly $2 million in illegal double payments due to a lack of “adequate controls.” Despite knowing about the problem for years, ESD dragged its feet, blaming understaffing and outdated technology while waiting for yet another infusion of taxpayer dollars. Auditors found over 2,200 cases of simultaneous unemployment and paid family leave benefits, breaking state law and eroding public trust. ESD promises to fix the mess by the end of 2025, but considering Inslee’s track record of delays and excuses, don’t hold your breath. Taxpayers are footing the bill for incompetence, while oversight remains as scarce as accountability in this administration. Read more at King 5.

Washington State’s budget is circling the drain, with a projected $10-12 billion deficit thanks to reckless Democrat spending. They blew over $6 billion on new policies in 2022 alone, all while revenues were barely growing. Now they’re scrambling to blame slowing forecasts and inflation, but critics rightly point out that this crisis is entirely self-inflicted by legislators prioritizing political pet projects over fiscal responsibility. The cherry on top? Another $1.4 billion is needed to fund state employee pay raises — because nothing says “responsible budgeting” like throwing money at unions during a fiscal meltdown. Instead of fixing their mess, they’re leaving taxpayers to foot the bill, likely with higher taxes. Read more at Center Square.

Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program is a mess, as a recent audit revealed $1.9 million in improper double-dipping payments from PFML and unemployment benefits. The Employment Security Department (ESD) lacked basic systems to catch or recover these overpayments, despite PFML already teetering on insolvency and requiring bailouts. Worse, the program disproportionately benefits higher-income workers, forcing low-income earners to fund paid leave for those who need it least. With payouts exceeding contributions and a tax hike looming, PFML is increasingly unsustainable. Instead of fixing a broken system, lawmakers should cut their losses and let workers keep more of their own money. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

Democrats are shaking up Senate leadership ahead of the 2025 session, with fresh faces promising to double down on their tax-and-spend agenda. State Sen. Noel Frame, a staunch advocate for capital gains and wealth taxes, will take a key finance role on the restructured Ways & Means Committee. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen claims voters want “affordable housing, a clean environment, and safe communities,” but with Democrats’ history of ballooning budgets and regressive tax policies, expect costs to keep climbing while results remain questionable. With their expanded majority, the party seems poised to push more burdensome taxes instead of fixing underlying issues. Read more at The Washington State Standard.

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