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Democrats just passed a bunch of bills pretending to fix problems they created—while ignoring the $10 billion budget hole they dug.
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Washington Democrats Pass More Expensive Band-Aids, Ignore Real Problems
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Washington’s House passed a flurry of bills, and while some had bipartisan support, others were just more of the usual Democratic tax-and-spend nonsense. Take HB 1540, which expands aid for “students experiencing homelessness” to tribal colleges—because apparently, Washington taxpayers aren’t bled dry enough. Rep. Travis Couture pointed out the obvious: the state is drowning in a $10 billion deficit, yet Democrats keep adding more expenses without fixing the mess they’ve already created.
Then there’s HB 1543, a bill to tweak the state’s botched energy policies. Even Republicans who voted for it, like Jim Walsh, admitted the underlying policy is a disaster—something Democrats specialize in. Meanwhile, HB 1616 aims to criminalize bad behavior on state ferries, which wouldn’t be necessary if Democrats hadn’t let crime spiral out of control in the first place.
Other bills passed with little opposition, including one on third-party cannabis testing (because that’s a top priority), expanding medication assistance, and tougher penalties for rapists who impregnate their victims—a rare moment of sanity from Olympia. But make no mistake: while Democrats pat themselves on the back, they’ve done nothing to fix skyrocketing crime, the affordability crisis, or their reckless spending spree. Read more at Center Square.
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Good Riddance to Bad Bills (For Now, At Least)
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Washington lawmakers have been busy tossing out bills like yesterday’s leftovers, hitting their first “do-or-die” deadline. Out of the 1,802 bills introduced this session, hundreds got the axe—including some that should have never seen the light of day.
Among the casualties: a bill to stop law enforcement from pulling people over for expired tabs or broken taillights (because we definitely need more lawless driving), a push to make dairy farmers track cow burps for methane emissions (seriously?), and an effort to ban wood-burning stoves (because nothing says “fighting climate change” like freezing rural families). Other flops included a proposal to slap a $25 minimum wage on businesses and an attempt to replace the state flag—because clearly, that’s a top priority.
Some of these bills were genuinely worth debating, like Republican-backed efforts to intervene earlier when minors get caught with illegal firearms and another to untangle Washington from California’s ridiculous vehicle emissions rules – but common sense often has a tough time in Olympia. Of course, in the Washington Legislature, no bad idea ever truly dies. Democrats could still dig up some of these flops and try again, but for now, we’ll take the small win. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.
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Democrats Gut Emergency Powers Reform, Keep Governor in Charge
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Washington Republicans tried to rein in the governor’s emergency powers, but Democrats predictably watered down the bill to keep executive overreach intact. SB 5434, originally designed to require legislative oversight after 30 days of emergency orders, was hijacked by Democrats who removed key limits on gubernatorial power. Under their changes, a state of emergency could drag on indefinitely unless all four legislative leaders agreed to end it—an impossible hurdle.
Republicans, including Sen. Jeff Wilson and Sen. Phil Fortunato, called out the sham reform, noting that it actually weakens existing law rather than strengthening it. Meanwhile, Democrats pretend they’re introducing oversight while keeping Washington’s governor free to rule unchecked, just like Inslee did for nearly three years. The message is clear: Democrats want one-man rule when it suits them, and bipartisan accountability be damned. Read more at Center Square.
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For Democrats, More Stoned Drivers Are Just What Washington Needs!
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Washington Democrats are pushing a bill to legalize public weed consumption events because clearly, what the state needs is more impaired drivers on the roads. House Bill 1932 would let licensed organizers host monthly three-day cannabis festivals, complete with “budtenders” trained in responsible sales—because that’ll definitely stop overconsumption. Supporters claim it’s all about economic opportunities and consumer protection, while law enforcement warns it will only make the state’s DUI crisis even worse. But why worry about public safety when there’s a new social experiment to push? The committee will decide the fate of the bill later, assuming they’re not too busy crafting the next big public health disaster.
Read more at NonStop Local – Tri-Cities.
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Democrats’ War on Trucking: Killing Jobs, Raising Costs, and Pleasing California
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Washington Democrats are once again proving they care more about California’s radical climate agenda than their own state’s economy. Republicans, led by Sen. Matt Boehnke (R-Kennewick), introduced SB 5091 to cut Washington’s automatic adoption of California’s extreme emission rules, which are crushing the trucking industry. Naturally, Democrats and environmental activists are fighting to keep these job-killing mandates in place.
Truckers, business leaders, and industry experts testified in favor of the bill, pointing out the obvious: forcing electric trucks onto an industry that keeps 75% of the economy moving is unrealistic and costly. Daimler Trucks, which dominates the heavy-duty market, has managed to sell a whopping three electric semi-trucks in three years. Why? Because they can barely go 250 miles on a charge and take six hours to refuel—totally impractical for long-haul trucking.
Even worse, Washington’s current rules mean diesel trucks can only be sold after enough electric trucks are bought—effectively holding the industry hostage to a green fantasy. The result? Trucking companies are already eyeing Idaho, where they can buy vehicles without these ridiculous restrictions. That means lost revenue, lost jobs, and higher costs for consumers.
Republicans are fighting to keep Washington’s economy moving, while Democrats are busy appeasing eco-extremists at the expense of working people. If the Left gets its way, expect supply chain disruptions, skyrocketing costs, and more businesses fleeing the state. But hey, at least California will be happy! Read more at Center Square.
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A Win for Landlords, A Loss for Professional Squatters
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The Washington Supreme Court just reminded everyone that the CARES Act wasn’t meant to permanently rewrite eviction laws. In a unanimous ruling, the Court clarified that the Act’s 30-day eviction notice rule only applies to nonpayment of rent, meaning landlords can now issue shorter notices for things like lease violations, nuisance, and criminal activity. Imagine that—landlords actually being allowed to enforce lease agreements.
This decision stems from a case involving Angela Knight, who, despite a history of law enforcement calls over shootings, stolen vehicles, and arrests at her subsidized unit, fought to stay put. A lower court initially sided with her, claiming the CARES Act protected her from being kicked out. But the state Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that state eviction laws still stand.
The ruling is a big win for landlords dealing with problematic tenants and a dose of reality for those who think public housing comes with a lifetime guarantee, no matter the behavior. While tenant advocates will surely cry foul, the Court made it clear: federal emergency measures don’t override state landlord-tenant laws forever. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.
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