Senate Democrats passed a bill that would require all automakers selling vehicles in our state ensure that 2.5 percent of their inventory is zero emission. Not because the bill would have any measurable positive impact on our environment, but because it makes those who voted in favor of it feel good about themselves. “What we do in environmental policy, especially in climate change, is we choose policies that are sexy and expensive instead of things that are effective,” said Todd Myers, environmental director for the Washington Policy Center. (KING 5)

Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) is looking into the security costs of Jay Inslee’s presidential campaign and whether or not taxpayers should be footing the bill. Fortunato sent a letter to the governor addressing his concerns. One line of the letter reads, “I wish you well in your endeavor promoting your so-called ‘Green Agenda’ but please do not take the green out of taxpayers’ pockets to do it.” Inslee’s protection team went over budget by $400,000 last year and now the Washington State Patrol is seeking an additional $1.3 million for the next two years. (Q13 FOX)

A Centralia School Board director is, unsurprisingly, not happy with the Left’s attempt at returning our school funding mechanisms back to pre-McCleary levels. Jami Lund is placing much of the budgetary constraints not on the need for more revenue, but the WEA’s special interest. “The problem is the union machinations resulting in even larger payroll obligations, and the remedy isn’t a return to the unfair system created by rampant local levy taxes for wage increases, he wrote.” (Spokesman-Review)

Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent a letter to 262 gun dealers demanding they abide by the terms of a gun control initiative that passed last November. The recipients of the letter operate in counties where sheriffs have indicated they will not enforce Initiative 1639, which passed with 60 percent of the vote. (MyNorthwest)

Despite the Legislature allocating nearly $100 million more in education funding to Seattle public schools, Seattle school superintendent Denise Juneau (who makes $374,100 a year) says she will impose severe cuts because of a budget shortfall. Liv Finne, with the Washington Policy Center rightly diagnosed the superintendent’s threats as political. “The Superintendent’s KUOW interview sounded like a marketing campaign to get taxpayers to provide even more money, in the highest-taxed city in the state.  And if the district doesn’t get it, it looks like the school board plans to take it out on kids by cutting learning programs.” (Washington Policy Center)

Nadine Woodward, a long time KXLY news anchor, appears to be considering a run to be the next Spokane mayor. “There are plenty of things I’ll be thinking about before I make a decision,” she said in a Thursday text to a reporter. “Some are very personal, I really can’t talk about what I don’t know right now.”  Michael Cathcart, executive director of Better Spokane, said if Woodward chooses to jump into the race that she would have a great shot at winning. (Spokesman-Review)

The Sunnyside City Council is weighing whether or not to establish a Transportation Benefit District in the city. “A Transportation Benefit District is used by many cities in our state,” City Manager Martin Casey said. TBDs are designed for collecting taxes and fees to be used for street maintenance. (Sunnyside Sun)

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