What Took Him So Long?

Source: ShiftWA.org

It’s about time! Governor Jay Inslee could have delivered emergency relief to Washington State residents far sooner than yesterday, when he finally signed legislation that provides mostly federal dollars to many residents who have been negatively impacted by Inslee’s own actions.  Instead of waiting 10 months to assist those in professions that were severely restricted by the governor’s “emergency orders,” Governor Inslee could have called a special session of the legislature last year, and enacted financial measures which could have prevented thousands of small businesses from permanently closing and assisted tens of thousands who lost their wages.  Governor Inslee’s statement yesterday, that he was “happy we’ve done this early in the session, because this really, certainly is needed,” is very hypocritical, as this could have been accomplished much sooner, and the financial anxiety experienced by Washington residents could have been reduced, but instead the governor and his ego selfishly refused to call the legislature into a special session. Just like when Governor Inslee forced Washington taxpayers to pay for the extra cost of state-provided security during his failed presidential campaign, the governor puts his political ego far ahead of the needs of Washington State residents. (Seattle Times)

The Washington State House Finance Committee will be holding a public hearing this Thursday, at 8:00 AM, on the Democrat’s latest bill to impose a state income tax on capital gains.  The controversial and unconstitutional measure (HB 1496) is the latest attempt by Washington Democrats to get around the state constitutional ban on an income tax.  The problem for the Democrats is that the IRS and all 49 other states categorize a tax on capital gains as a tax on income, and thus it is unconstitutional in Washington.  Democrat lawmakers are hoping that if the bill is passed, a liberal Washington State Supreme Court will ignore the overwhelming evidence that the measure is unconstitutional and allow it to become law.  In doing so, it will allow the Democrats the opportunity to open up a new lucrative revenue stream to pay for their dreams of an ever-larger and more powerful state government.  If you would like to register to provide verbal testimony on the bill, or if you would like to provide written testimony, you can do so by clicking this link. It is interesting to note that Socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant was one of the very first people to register to provide testimony in favor of the bill. (House Finance Committee testimony registration, Washington Legislature Bill Summary, and Washington Policy Center)

A majority of those who registered to testify on a bill to reform a governor’s emergency powers support limiting the power of the governor during an emergency.  Driven by Governor Inslee’s endless one-man rule, filled with orders that are not supported by scientific evidence – but are supported by his special interest buddies – Washington State residents strongly support fixing the law that provides the governor with emergency powers.  The bill (HB 1029), written by Representative Jim Walsh (R – Aberdeen), would require the governor to obtain legislative support within 14 days of issuing an emergency order.  Even though the bill is supported by community leaders across the state (who have been ignored by the governor and his administration during the past year), there is little chance the bill will be voted on by the Democrat-controlled committee.  (News Tribune and Washington Legislature Bill Summary)