The Outcome of the Lack of Accountability

 

Source: ShiftWA.org

Governor Inslee constantly makes elusive and factually incorrect statements, and the local media fails to uphold its responsibility to point them out to the public (and to Inslee).  Consider a few of Governor Zero’s whoppers: his defense for having Washington State taxpayers fund security for his failed presidential campaign; him claiming ignorance of the forceful takeover of six city blocks (and a Seattle police precinct) by protestors; to his stubborn refusal to call a much needed (and legally required) special legislative session. In each of these instances – and many more – the Washington State media fails to hold the governor accountable for his misleading comments. Since there are no consequences for providing evasive responses and fabricating false scenarios to legitimate questions and concerns, Inslee will continue to make them. As a result, the public is not served, and our democracy suffers. (Shift Article)

Governor Inslee announced the state has received a $15 million federal grant to help small businesses, but hasn’t decided which campaign donors will get that help.  It is no surprise that Inslee’s Department of Commerce (which has been run by a long list of Democrat political operatives) is not saying what the criteria will be for appropriating these funds. Department Director Lisa Brown (former Democrat Senate Majority Leader and congressional campaign loser in 2018) said only that grants will “go out equitably with respect to region and specific demographic groups.”  We can take that to mean those who live in high-population urban areas that vote solidly Democrat and/or belong to a liberal interest group that supports Inslee’s campaign will be the most likely recipients of these funds. (KING5 News)

Despite a drop in new unemployment claims, Governor Inslee’s dysfunctional Employment Security Department (ESD) has yet to resolve over 20,000 claims from Washington residents.  The backlog problems never seem to end, despite the governor repeatedly promising to focus his attention on solving it and the ESD hiring over 1,000 additional individuals (and using the National Guard) to process the applications and handle appeals.  ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine issued yet another meaningless statement acknowledging the “frustration and hardship these delays can cause.”  As one frustrated applicant said about her long pending application and appeal, “We’ll see how this appeals process goes. But I am not expecting it to be quick.” Seems the only thing quick about ESD is how quickly LeVine and Inslee break their promises about solving the problems which they have caused. (Seattle Times)

One final item from Inslee’s poor performance in this week’s gubernatorial debate: The governor said he had no idea what his opponent Loren Culp was talking about when the Republican candidate brought up the pricy no-bid consulting contracts the Inslee administration was handing out to his friends.  Our governor thus proved, once again, that either he has no clue about what is happening in his administration and the state, or he just chooses to play ignorant when facts are uncomfortable for him.  The news that his administration paid approximately $5 million dollars in a series of contracts with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company made headlines just two months ago.  Despite full employment of state workers during the pandemic, the Inslee administration needed to spend even more taxpayer money on outside help asking for advice on how not to keep screwing up. (Melissa Santos Twitter and The Seattle Times)