Democrats passed parental rights to avoid public backlash, and now they’re shredding them faster than you can say “election over.”

Democrats to Parents: Sit Down and Shut Up

Democrats in Washington are proving they’ll do whatever it takes to undermine parents and deceive voters. Despite hundreds of thousands of citizens signing petitions for Initiative 2081—a parental rights law guaranteeing parents access to educational materials, notifications, and opt-outs for sexual health education—Democrats are pushing House Bill 1296 to gut those protections. They passed I-2081 last year just to avoid a political backlash at the ballot box, only to turn around and try to erase it. GOP State Rep. Travis Couture called it out plainly: this was their plan all along.

Adding insult to injury, Democrats have silenced dissent by changing 132-year-old rules to block debate and ram through controversial bills with a simple majority. HB 1296 is their latest weapon to strip parents of their rights while hiding behind vague claims of “supporting schools.” Meanwhile, supporters of parental rights, including Pete Serrano of the Silent Majority Foundation, are outraged that the Legislature is ignoring the will of the people.

Parents deserve to know what’s happening with their kids—not have schools keep secrets under the guise of “exploration” and “identity.” Democrats’ efforts to undo I-2081 show they care more about appeasing radical activists than respecting families. If Washingtonians don’t fight back, these same lawmakers will erase every shred of parental authority in the name of political agendas. Read more at Center Square.

Democracy? More Like Majority Rules—Literally

Washington Democrats just nuked a 132-year-old rule requiring a supermajority to end debate, allowing them to silence Republicans with a simple majority vote. GOP Rep. Chris Corry called it what it is: a blatant power grab designed to muzzle the minority party and steamroll legislation without real discussion. Democrats, led by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, claim it’s about “efficiency,” but apparently, robust debate is now considered a nuisance to their agenda. Meanwhile, Republicans pointed out that rules already exist to prevent endless speeches, making this move unnecessary—unless, of course, the goal is simply to crush dissent. Congrats, Washingtonians: your elected voices can now be muted the moment they become inconvenient to the ruling party. Read more at The Chronicle.

Republicans Lead the Charge on Fixing Washington’s Housing Crisis

Republicans in Washington are stepping up where Democrats previously fell short, championing practical solutions to address the state’s housing crunch. GOP Rep. Sam Low’s proposal to expand backyard cottages in rural areas balances affordability with accountability, requiring proper permitting and environmental safeguards. GOP Rep. Andrew Barkis is reviving a lot-splitting bill to create affordable homeownership opportunities, which he’s refined to address prior concerns and is optimistic about finally passing this year. Meanwhile, Low’s plan to extend tax breaks for multi-family housing to all counties is a common-sense way to boost development statewide, winning support from builders and counties alike. Republicans are driving bipartisan momentum for these measures, showing that housing policy doesn’t have to be about lip service—it can be about real results. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Sound Transit: Delayed Trains, But Right on Time for Woke Nonsense

Sound Transit is prioritizing a $450K Chief Diversity Officer to push far-left ideology while its projects remain delayed and wildly over budget. As KTTH’s Jason Rantz points out, instead of fixing the light rail mess or addressing the homeless problem plaguing its trains, the agency is investing in a DEI role that emphasizes “anti-racism” and “transformative change”—which, as usual, means little more than social engineering. Meanwhile, major companies like Meta and McDonald’s are ditching DEI programs for being ineffective and divisive, but Sound Transit seems eager to cling to this outdated fad. Taxpayers deserve better than a transit system more focused on virtue signaling than delivering reliable service. Apparently, for Sound Transit, running on time only applies to woke trends, not trains. Read more at KTTH.

Seattle’s Motto: Tax First, Ask Questions Never

Seattle seems determined to put a giant “Closed for Business” sign on the city, with not one but two payroll tax measures to fund competing social housing plans. Voters will be asked on February 11 whether they want to tax businesses more (Prop 1A) or just redirect existing taxes that are already propping up Seattle’s shaky budget (Prop 1B). Both options scream one thing loud and clear: the city is doubling down on policies that make it harder for businesses to survive in a city where they’re already being squeezed.

Prop 1A is the more aggressive of the two, proposing a 5% tax on compensation over $1 million per Seattle-based employee. In a city that’s seen Amazon scale back its presence and countless small businesses shutter under the weight of taxes and regulations, this measure could send even more jobs packing. Advocates claim it will fund the creation of 2,000 social housing units over 10 years—at a cost of $50 million annually. That’s one expensive experiment for a city still struggling to deliver results on existing housing promises.

Then there’s Prop 1B, the “moderate” alternative backed by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Instead of imposing a new tax, it dips into the Jumpstart payroll tax—a funding source that’s already been raided repeatedly to patch up Seattle’s budget shortfalls. The City Council insists this plan comes with “accountability,” but it’s hard to take that seriously when the same Council has used Jumpstart revenues to paper over a $250 million deficit and fund pet projects unrelated to housing. If this is the city’s idea of solving the housing crisis, it’s no wonder businesses and residents alike are looking for the nearest exit. Read more at PBS.

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