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Democrats’ new rent cap: Because nothing solves a housing crisis like making it harder to build housing.
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Washington Democrats Take Aim at Housing—Again
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Democrats have once again decided they know best, ramming through a rent cap bill that’ll do more to kill new housing than actually help renters. House Bill 1217 caps rent hikes at 7% a year, because nothing screams “build more housing” like strangling landlords with more restrictions. Republicans, led by Rep. April Connors (R-Kennewick), tried to slow the bill down, pointing out that the rushed hearing left plenty of people—especially opponents—without a chance to testify. But Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Seattle) wasn’t interested in hearing dissent, brushing off concerns because, hey, he got some emails.
GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Jeremie Dufault (R-Selah), pushed for reasonable tweaks, like exempting below-market rentals so landlords wouldn’t be forced to raise rents just to stay afloat. Democrats shot them all down. Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Seattle) trotted out an emotional story about a struggling tenant, ignoring the mountain of evidence showing rent control destroys housing supply. Meanwhile, Rep. Sam Low (R-Lake Stevens) warned that this would turn Washington into another Minneapolis, where rent control collapsed new construction practically overnight.
Dufault summed it up perfectly: This bill is like stabbing someone, then pulling the knife out a tiny bit and calling it help. But Democrats, in their infinite wisdom, charged ahead, passing the bill 53-42. Even five Democrats couldn’t stomach it. Next stop: the Senate, where common sense will hopefully make a surprise appearance. Read more at Center Square.
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Even Washington Democrats Had to Pump the Brakes on This One
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Democrats tried to pass a bill giving unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants, but—miraculously—it died before making it out of committee. The plan relied on self-reported work history with no employer verification, practically begging for fraud. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) admitted they couldn’t figure out how to prevent abuse, and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Seattle) blamed the state’s massive budget mess for shelving it. But don’t worry—Democrats are already plotting to revive this disaster next session. Because when it comes to bad ideas, they never take “no” for an answer. Read more at Washington State Standard.
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Harrell’s Latest Tax Hike: Now You Get to Pay for Politicians You Don’t
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Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is back at it, pushing yet another tax hike—this time to pump an extra $45 million into the city’s so-called “Democracy Voucher” program. That’s a 50% increase in funding for a system that hands out taxpayer-funded campaign cash, all while Seattle struggles with crime, homelessness, and crumbling infrastructure. Harrell insists this ensures “all voices” are heard, but in reality, it just forces property owners to bankroll political campaigns they might not even support. The city brags about participation numbers, but conveniently ignores whether this program has actually improved governance (spoiler: it hasn’t). Before this can land on the August 2025 ballot, the Seattle City Council—always eager to spend other people’s money—will have to approve it first. Read more at Center Square.
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Washington Democrats: More Sympathy for Criminals, Less for Victims
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According to a recent report from KTTH, Greg Moore was killed by a 15-year-old who thought it’d be funny to “bump” him with her car—now, thanks to Washington’s soft-on-crime agenda, she’s already out of juvenile detention and living in a group home with plenty of freedom. But that’s not enough for state lawmakers, who are pushing Senate Bill 5266 to let violent juvenile offenders seek early release at 24, because apparently, consequences are just too harsh. Michelle Moore, Greg’s widow, slammed the bill, saying it prioritizes criminals over victims and their families—something that’s become a theme in Washington’s justice system. She even admitted that while she leans left, the state has swung so far in favor of offenders that it’s fueling the rise in youth crime. If lawmakers really cared about justice, this bill would be dead on arrival—but in Washington, criminals seem to get all the second chances. Read more at KTTH.
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A Step in the Right Direction, But Real Reform Still Needed
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Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) has pledged to limit his own emergency powers, a move that acknowledges concerns over executive authority. His policy would end emergency declarations after 60 days if requested by three of the four legislative leaders and call a special session after 120 days. This comes after Sen. Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro-Woolley) proposed legislation to place similar guardrails on a governor’s emergency powers, which failed to advance in the Legislature. While Ferguson’s commitment is a positive step, it remains a temporary solution that could be undone by any future governor. Wagoner praised the governor’s recognition of the issue but emphasized the need for lasting legislative reform to ensure a proper balance of power. Without codifying these limits into law, Washingtonians will have to rely on the governor’s word alone—something that can change with political winds. Read more at the Washington State Standard.
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