The countdown to Election Day has begun—cast your vote early and ensure your voice is heard!
Voting Season is Here: Get Your Ballots Ready!
General Election voting kicked off today as drop boxes opened for ballot submissions. Each county is required to mail ballots to voters by today, starting an 18-day voting period leading up to Election Day on November 5. Please remember to submit your ballot early to avoid last-minute issues. You can postmark your ballot by 8 p.m. on November 5 (no postage required), or through county drop boxes, which are open 24/7 and will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. As you know, this election includes crucial positions like president, governor, congressional seats, and local measures. Please remember to vote! You can find ballot drop locations here.
Washington’s Deadliest Roads Yet, Thanks to the Defund Movement and Legal Weed
Traffic fatalities in Washington state have surged 51% from 528 in 2019 to 810 in 2023, marking the deadliest year since 1990. Officials from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) and Washington State Patrol have labeled the situation a “safety crisis.” The tragic rise is attributed to factors like law enforcement staffing shortages after Democrats’ 2020 defund the police movement and increased substance abuse among drivers – thanks to Democrats’ legalization of marijuana. Read more at the Center Square.
Tacoma News Tribune Endorses Ferguson in Unenthusiastic Op-Ed
It’s no surprise that The Tacoma News Tribune endorsed Bob Ferguson for governor. But, despite the partisan predictability, the endorsement feels like it comes with a shrug. They describe the race as lackluster, and you can almost sense their hesitation in choosing Ferguson, labeling him the “marginally better” option.
What’s particularly interesting is their focus on energy policy. Ferguson’s stance on clean energy is highlighted as a positive, yet Washington’s track record under Democratic leadership on this front has been anything but a success. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been funneled into Democrats’ clean energy initiatives with little to no tangible results. If anything, the Tribune’s endorsement of Fergusons seems more like a vote for the status quo than an enthusiastic endorsement of his ability – as opposed to Inslee’s ongoing failures – to deliver real results. You can read the endorsement here.
Taxpayer Dollars Go Solar: Tumwater's EV Chargers Prove You Can’t Buy Efficiency
The City of Tumwater, along with other cities, is installing expensive solar-powered EV chargers that are highly inefficient, according to the Washington Policy Center. These chargers cost about five times more than traditional grid-connected chargers but produce far less electricity. Tumwater spent nearly $100,000 on one solar-powered charger that provides significantly fewer miles of charge than promised due to the poor solar potential in Washington’s cloudy climate. Bellingham’s solar chargers are similarly ineffective, delivering only 24 miles of charge per day on average, despite claims that they reduced CO2 emissions.
The Washington Policy Center estimates it would take 475 years for Bellingham’s chargers to offset their environmental cost. In Tumwater, it would take 634 years to justify the expenditure. Despite these poor results, city officials defend the spending because it “looks nice” to have solar power. The Washington Policy Center points out that this is a wasteful use of taxpayer money that does little to combat climate change, offering a luxury charging option rather than a practical solution. These projects represent broader concerns about inefficient spending under the guise of climate action, setting a dangerous precedent for future wasteful projects. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.
Subscribe to Our Podcast Today!
Have you subscribed to the new Shift WA podcast yet? We’ve already released three full episodes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive:
- Pete Serrano discusses his path to law school, work as an environmental lawyer, and run for office. He breaks down the Attorney General’s mission, public safety priorities, and the police and public defender shortages. Pete also highlights what sets him apart from his opponent and shares thoughts on working with the legislature and whether the AG should be appointed by the governor.
- Forget the debates! We’re going full counter-programming with our first video podcast featuring the one and only Ashley Stubbs. She’s shares the wild world of campaign merch and swag. We dive into her treasure trove of campaign knickknacks and discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how it might have even cost Mayor Pete the 2020 election.
- The hosts dive into regulations with Patrick McLaughlin, Director of Policy Analytics at the Mercatus Center. Patrick discusses his latest project on state-level regulations and their economic impacts. How does Washington compare to its neighbors? Do regulators care about stifling progress, or are regulations necessary? Patrick addresses critics and offers insights on improving the regulatory landscape, especially in a blue state.
- Judge Dave Larson joins the podcast to discuss his run for the Washington State Supreme Court, his journey into law, and the realities of judicial elections. He also touches on bias in the judiciary, legal news on ballot initiatives, and whether legal shows get it right. Finally, he shares ideas for improving the justice system.
- David Olson talks about his bid for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including the role of OSPI, implications of I-2081, and his approaches to learning loss and school tech policies. He also addresses rising anti-Semitism in schools and the need for more apprenticeships.
Subscribe now and don’t miss out on these critical discussions!
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