Friends,

 

With the holidays quickly approaching, the days are getting a little busier – in a good way, we hope. And, as always, we hope to keep you up-to-date with an item or two of interest this week from your own backyard. Read on…

Former U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, currently running for Washington State Commissioner of  Public Lands, discusses her candidacy in this week’s Newsmaker Interview. Having served 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Herrera Beutler aims to enhance the management of public lands to mitigate wildfires, emphasizing the need for proactive measures like clearing brush and removing downed trees. Herrera Beutler criticizes Democrat leadership for increasing the damage of the state's recent devastating wildfires and suggests a more science-based approach to resource management. In addition to her political insights, she shares her favorite book—a classic biography of one of the nation's founding fathers. Read more.

 

Shift used our Dec. 1 newsletter to highlight a scandal emerging from a KING 5 investigative piece, exposing the first significant whistleblower from the Inslee administration. Other media outlets, including Crosscut, added to the coverage last weekend, noting Governor Inslee's spokesperson's attempts to downplay the situation but failing to address key questions raised by the fired employee (such as instructions to avoid documenting rising gas prices in emails to avoid public records disclosure and allegations of political bullying). The unfolding scandal prompts anticipation for additional research by the media and Governor Inslee's team – but we aren’t holding our breath. Read this story and more.

Governor Jay Inslee's carbon tax, touted as a means to reduce emissions, is actually a multi-billion dollar transfer from taxpayers to state government and Democratic interests. A new report reveals that funds from the initial carbon tax proceeds were primarily used by the Department of Transportation and Transportation Improvement Board for purposes like increasing bus ridership, enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and aiding rural transportation services. Despite the lack of much evidence indicating actual emission reductions thanks to all this new government spending, the report raises concerns about the transparency of the program given the undisclosed amount being used for administrative purposes. Read this story and more.

Winter in the Pacfic Northwest is a beautiful time of year, as you can see from this photo captured by former U.S. Rep. Rod Chandler.