If you're a taxpayer or law-abiding citizen, tough luck—Democrats are too busy prioritizing criminals, bureaucrats, and illegal immigrants.

Democrats' Big-Government Dreams Collide with Fiscal Reality—GOP Bills Get the Shaft

Democrats’ reckless spending spree hit a roadblock as fiscal constraints forced several bills to die, including their latest attempt to make initiative signature-gathering more difficult. Senate Bill 5382, which Republicans rightly dubbed the “initiative killer,” would have created new hurdles for citizens to get measures on the ballot, but even Democratic Secretary of State Steve Hobbs wasn’t on board. Meanwhile, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s push for universal free school meals got sidelined due to its $120 million price tag—a stark reminder that even Democrats can’t spend money that doesn’t exist.

Their latest scheme to hand out unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants also met its well-deserved demise, with Democrats admitting that adding expensive new entitlement programs isn’t exactly a winning idea during a budget crisis. Another overreach, a bill to give incarcerated criminals a “right to civic engagement,” was too absurd even for some Democrats to stomach. While the left’s soft-on-crime agenda took a hit, so did a bipartisan measure to secure ballot boxes after an arson attack—because apparently, preventing voter fraud isn’t a priority.

Meanwhile, common-sense GOP-backed bills, like Senate Minority Leader John Braun’s plan to combat chronic absenteeism in public schools, were inexplicably left to languish. The same fate met a bipartisan push to address the public defender and prosecutor shortage, proving that Democrats are more interested in making life easier for criminals than supporting those who uphold the law. Even a simple measure to allow “kit homes” for affordable housing fell victim to legislative gridlock, while Democrats continue to blame the housing crisis on everything but their own restrictive policies.

At the end of the day, the message from Olympia is clear: if you’re a taxpayer, student, or crime victim, don’t expect Democrats to have your back. If you’re an illegal immigrant, a violent felon, or a bureaucrat looking to expand government control, they’ll find a way to squeeze you into the budget—no matter the cost. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

Reykdal and Ferguson vs. Reality: Washington’s War on Title IX

Chris Reykdal and Bob Ferguson are ignoring federal Title IX protections, pushing Washington schools to defy a recent court ruling and Trump’s executive order. The Washington Parents Network (WPN) has had enough, filing a complaint detailing how state leadership is forcing schools to choose between following federal law or facing punishment. Reykdal even claimed it’s “inaccurate” to say there are only boys and girls, doubling down on policies that could cost Washington schools billions in federal funding. Enumclaw School Board Member Paul Fisher called out the impossible position districts are in, but Reykdal’s office now insists there was no direct threat—just vague consequences for noncompliance. A January federal ruling made it clear that states must follow Title IX, yet Washington’s leadership is pretending otherwise. Ferguson even shrugged off potential funding losses, suggesting the state can just throw more taxpayer money at the problem. WPN’s lawsuit makes one thing clear: Reykdal and Ferguson are violating their oaths of office, choosing ideological activism over federal law. Read more at Center Square.

Washington Democrats: Making Life Easier for Criminals, One Bill at a Time

Washington Democrats are at it again—this time pretending that cutting sentences for violent felons will somehow help their victims. HB 1274 wipes out juvenile crime history from sentencing calculations, giving criminals a free pass simply because they started young. As KTTH’s Jason Rantz points out, Democrat Rep. Debra Lekanoff claims this is about “healing,” but in reality, it’s just another excuse to empty prisons under the guise of “equity.” Victims don’t get a say, and their attackers are handed automatic resentencing—because apparently, public safety is less important than political virtue-signaling. Republicans, like Rep. Brian Burnett, are pointing out the obvious: these aren’t shoplifters getting a second chance, they’re violent criminals. But instead of protecting victims, Democrats are busy rewriting history to justify their soft-on-crime policies. The message is clear—if you’re a criminal in Washington, don’t worry, the Democrats have your back. Read more at KTTH.

Does Washington Have a ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Check’ Registration Scheme?

Washington’s voter rolls are a mess, and Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh wants answers. He’s calling on the DOJ to audit the state’s “Motor Voter” system, which automatically registers people when they get a driver’s license—without verifying citizenship. The Department of Licensing and Secretary of State play a game of hot potato when asked who’s responsible, while potentially tens of thousands of noncitizens could be on the rolls. Meanwhile, state officials insist automatic registration is great because it saves people the “hassle” of remembering election deadlines—never mind if ineligible voters slip through. Walsh just wants an outside investigation, but Democrats would rather ignore the problem than admit their system might be a disaster. Read more at Center Square.

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