When Gov. Jay Inslee gave his State of the State address today, he delivered it in a House chamber that’s more closely split than any since 2002. After racking up a big majority, Speaker Frank Chopp has watched as Republicans have consistently added to their ranks. Chopp and the Democrats are down to a bare 50-48 majority (from a high of 63-35). Shift looks at why Chopp’s strategy has been failing – and why swing district Democrats might want to distance themselves from it.
Shift noticed a stark lack of answers coming from Inslee’s Corrections chief at a hearing yesterday. After his department botched the early release of prisoners, Dan Pacholke told senators a bunch of pablum but not much in the way of real answers. So much for “absolute accountability.”
Finally, Shift today wondered why more liberal Seattle politicians aren’t jumping into the race to succeed Rep. Jim McDermott (could it have something to do with being stuck in the minority in D.C.?) and highlighted Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest tax hike legislation.