Washington Democrats just proved that when it comes to parental rights, their favorite number is zero and their favorite time to attack them is 2 a.m.

Washington Democrats Just Gutted Parental Rights at 2 A.M.—Because Nothing Good Happens After Midnight

Washington Democrats just pulled an all-nighter to gut the parents’ bill of rights, because nothing says “supporting families” like sneaking in an anti-parent bill at 2 a.m. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1296, passed on a strict party-line vote, was pitched as a way to create a “safe and supportive” education system—by undermining parental rights at every turn. Republicans fought tooth and nail, offering 131 amendments, but only a handful survived, including one forcing schools to notify parents immediately if something serious happens to their child. Because apparently, Democrats were fine with a 48-hour delay.

Another amendment kept the current 10-day response time for parents to access school records—Democrats wanted to drag it out to 45 days, because why let parents know what’s happening in their own child’s education? Rep. Ed Orcutt (R-Kalama) called out the state’s heavy-handed interference with local school boards, which are being strong-armed into pushing certain materials under threat of funding cuts. When he described the kind of graphic content kids are being exposed to, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) quickly shut him down—because the truth is just too uncomfortable to hear out loud.

To add insult to injury, Democrats slapped an emergency clause on the bill, blocking any possibility of a referendum. Rep. Chris Corry (R-Yakima) called it what it was—circumventing the rights of citizens. But parents aren’t giving up—Let’s Go Washington has already filed another initiative to restore their rights. Meanwhile, the Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5181, which Democrats claim will “align” I-2081 with existing law—meaning more bureaucratic maneuvering to water it down. If nothing else, Republicans made it clear they’re willing to fight until the last vote to stop Democrats from turning schools into state-controlled indoctrination centers. Read more at Center Square.

Sen. Pedersen (D-Seattle) Said Parents Have No Right to Know About Their Kids’ Mental Health—And People Were Furious

A new report reveals just how many emails flooded Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle)’s inbox, blasting him for saying that parents have no right to know about their child’s mental health decisions last month. In a Feb. 5 Fox News interview, Pedersen bluntly stated that “kids over 13 have the complete right” to make those choices without parental consent—because apparently, the government knows best. Public backlash was swift, with emails accusing him of trying to strip parental rights and comparing his stance to that of a “child groomer.” Pedersen backpedaled, claiming he was just “articulating state law,” not his own views—conveniently ignoring the fact that he is in a position to change the law. Meanwhile, Democrats continue to push bill that could only be described as parental rights landmine in their apparent crusade to sideline parents. If Pedersen’s inbox is any indication, Washington parents have had enough. Read more at Center Square.

Washington's Roads: High Costs, Low Results

Washington ranks 47th out of 50 states for highway performance and cost-effectiveness, according to a new report from the Reason Foundation. Despite spending more than any other state on road construction and maintenance, Washington came in dead last in cost-effectiveness and 50th in road upkeep, with worsening pavement conditions and traffic congestion. Nearly 9% of the state’s bridges are in poor condition, and replacing the 313 aging bridges would cost an estimated $8.3 billion. WSDOT blames funding constraints, claiming they are “managing decline” rather than improving infrastructure due to budget limitations. The root cause? Years of Democrat wasteful spending and mismanagement, leaving Washington with crumbling roads and overspending without results. Meanwhile, drivers continue to face crumbling roads, longer commutes, and the highest spending in the country with little to show for it. Check out the full study here.

Washington’s Carbon Tax Hits New High—Because Paying More for Everything Is ‘Effective and Working’

Washington’s cap-and-trade scheme just squeezed another $230 million out of businesses, with pollution credits selling for $50 apiece—a 24% jump from December. Democrats and their climate allies are celebrating, claiming the system is “effective” and “stable,” because what’s more stable than skyrocketing costs? As Todd Myers (Washington Policy Center) points out, this is a punishment on businesses and consumers, with gas prices already inflated by about 40 to 50 cents per gallon thanks to the program. Meanwhile, Democrats are conveniently cashing in as they face a $12-15 billion budget shortfall—because, naturally, making life more expensive is their go-to solution. Some Republicans, like Rep. Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy), are pushing for measures to curb these price spikes, but House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon (D-West Seattle) is focused on keeping the cash flow strong. And while they talk about “investing” in heat pumps and EVs, most Washingtonians are left with one option—pay more and like it. Read more at the Washington State Standard.

A Tax Hike Disguised as Public Safety—And It Won’t Even Hire Cops

Washington ranks dead last in police staffing, yet House Democrats’ big idea isn’t to fix the anti-police policies that drove officers away—it’s to let cities raise sales taxes without voter approval. House Bill 2015 lets local governments impose a 0.1% sales tax increase to qualify for public safety grants, even though many small cities wouldn’t collect enough to hire even one officer. Rep. Josh Penner (R-Orting) pointed out that most cities would bring in less than $75,000, hardly enough to make a dent in public safety. Rep. Travis Couture (R-Allyn) called out the scheme for what it is: forcing residents to pay more just to feel safe, despite Democrats’ track record of defunding police and reducing penalties for criminals.

Republicans tried to add common-sense amendments to protect smaller communities from being forced into the tax hike, but Democrats shot them down. One small victory? Lawmakers removed a requirement forcing cities to impose the tax just to access the $100 million in grants. But even then, the bill remains a smokescreen—it pretends to fund public safety while delivering little real help. Instead of reversing the anti-police policies that caused this crisis, Democrats are grabbing for your wallet and hoping you won’t notice crime keeps getting worse. Read more at Center Square.

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