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Democrats lost the initiative battles—so now they’re trying to rig the rules to make sure it never happens again.
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Washington Democrats’ Latest Scheme: Killing the Initiative Process to Silence Voters
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Democrats – self-appointed “defenders” of democracy – are at it again, this time pushing Senate Bill 5382 to make Washington’s initiative process practically impossible. The bill would require signature gatherers to personally verify names and addresses under threat of jail time or a $5,000 fine—because nothing says “democracy” like criminalizing civic engagement. The Secretary of State’s Office would also have to verify every address, meaning valid signatures could be tossed just because someone moved.
Tim Eyman called it a “solution in desperate search of a problem,” given that invalid signatures are already screened out. Even the SOS Policy Director admitted the bill could unfairly reject legitimate voters. Let’s Go Washington’s Brian Heywood pointed out the absurdity of holding signature gatherers to a higher standard than actual voters. Of course, this all just happens to follow the massive success of Let’s Go Washington’s initiative efforts, which forced lawmakers to adopt policies they’d rather avoid. If passed, the bill would scare off 90% of volunteers—exactly what Democrats want. After all, if voters can’t challenge their bad policies, they can keep pushing their agenda without consequences.
Read more at Center Square.
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Must-Listen Podcasts: Travis Couture on Budget Battles & Skyler Rude on Education Reforms
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In our latest podcast episodes, GOP Rep. Travis Couture breaks down the key legislative issues of the session, from budget shortfalls and tax hikes to a controversial rule change silencing debate in the House. He also highlights the struggles facing small businesses in Washington.
GOP Rep. Skyler Rude also joined us to discuss proposed educational reforms, including parental rights, restricting cellphones in schools, and the need for better financial education. He also talked about apprenticeships and how they could complement traditional education. Tune in to both episodes for insider insights and plenty of political drama.
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King County’s Budget Crisis: Who Could’ve Guessed That Reckless Spending Would Backfire?
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King County Executive Dow Constantine is proposing to slash over $85 million from public safety and judicial services while blaming the shortfall on a 23-year-old property tax cap instead of his own runaway spending. Under his leadership, the county budget ballooned 45% despite a modest 17.6% population increase, proving that fiscal responsibility is apparently an afterthought. Instead of trimming the fat from his pet projects, Constantine is using the threat of gutting law enforcement and courts to push a property tax hike via House Bill 1334.
The Sheriff’s Office alone faces a $30.2 million cut, and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, courts, and jails are all taking hits—because nothing says “public safety” like fewer prosecutors and cops. Meanwhile, his appointed sheriff insists no layoffs are coming, despite the obvious reality that losing funding means losing staff. And let’s not forget the hypocrisy: King County claims to have a housing affordability crisis, yet Constantine wants to raise property taxes even higher. At the end of the day, this isn’t a revenue problem—it’s a priorities problem, and public safety is clearly not one of them. Read more at KTTH.
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Washington’s Brilliant Plan: Make Medical Debt Disappear by Pretending It Doesn’t Exist
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State Democrats are pushing SB 5480, a bill that essentially tells patients, “Don’t worry about paying your medical bills—just make sure they get reported to a credit bureau first.” While framed as consumer protection, the bill rewards non-payment by making reported medical debt legally void, forcing hospitals to shift costs to everyone else through higher prices and stricter payment policies. It also distorts the credit market, making it harder for lenders to assess financial responsibility—because apparently, hiding debt is the new solution to financial hardship. Ironically, this could reduce access to care as providers grow wary of treating patients they know they’ll never get paid for. Instead of encouraging financial irresponsibility, lawmakers should focus on solutions like price transparency, better payment plans, and incentives for Health Savings Accounts. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.
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Washington’s Budget Black Hole: Tax More, Deliver Less
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Washington voters aren’t buying what Democrats are selling when it comes to taxes and spending. A new poll shows nearly 80% of voters believe the state has enough money but don’t trust lawmakers to spend it wisely. Despite years of record tax revenue, Washington faces a massive budget shortfall, yet Democrats keep pushing for new taxes. Former Gov. Jay Inslee even floated a wealth tax on his way out the door. With state spending doubling in a decade and no noticeable improvement in quality of life, voters are right to be skeptical. Read more at Center Square.
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