Rent control so smart, even inflation gets a raise.

Rent Control Theater: Now With Extra Inflation

Washington Democrats are still trying to slap lipstick on their rent control disaster, but even some in their own party are calling out the mess. EHB 1217, the so-called “rent cap” bill, just barely cleared the Senate after a last-second tie-breaking vote raised the cap from 7% to 10% + CPI—which means rents could skyrocket in high-inflation years.

Let’s be clear: that’s not a cap. It’s a green light for rent hikes with a math lesson attached.

Democrat Sen. Annette Cleveland broke ranks, warning the bill will worsen housing supply, not improve it. Small landlords? Punished. New housing? Discouraged. But hey, at least Seattle activists will feel like they did something.

Republicans are already predicting the House will gut the Senate changes and ram the original version through after a “dog-and-pony show” conference committee, as Rep. Dan Griffey put it.

The only hope of stopping this inflation-fueled, housing-stifling policy? A governor who hasn’t said a word—Bob Ferguson. Silence may be golden, but in this case, it’s just cowardly.

This bill isn’t rent relief. It’s rent control cosplay—and renters will be the ones paying the price. Read more at Center Square.

“Trust the Science”—As Long as It’s Their Science

Democrats in the Washington State Senate just gave public health bureaucrats sweeping power with Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1531, a bill they claim is about “clarity”—but really just shuts down dissent and puts the government back in the driver’s seat the next time there’s a public health panic.

Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-Lakewood), the bill’s sponsor, insists this isn’t about reigniting COVID-era outrage. “This isn’t me poking the bear,” he said—just handing the bear a loaded syringe and a gag order.

Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver) gave the usual “science, science, science” speech, saying the bill is all about “evidence-based, peer-reviewed, data-driven science.” You know, the kind that closed schools, banned funerals, and shut down small businesses while Costco stayed open.

Meanwhile, Republicans pointed out the obvious: we still don’t know what the “best available science” even means anymore. Sen. Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor) and Sen. Leonard Christian (R-Spokane Valley) called it out for what it is—a First Amendment black eye and a blueprint for suppressing any viewpoint that strays from the official government script.

The bill passed 31-18, with every Democrat voting yes. Now it heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who’s surely ready to sign off on it with a pen in one hand and a mask in the other.

And thanks to an emergency clause, this overreach will kick in immediately once signed. Because nothing says “transparent science” like forcing it into law without delay. Read more at Center Square.

Another “Progressive” Win: Protecting Traffickers, Gagging Law Enforcement

Washington Democrats have outdone themselves again—this time with Substitute Senate Bill 5093, a bill they say promotes “dignity in pregnancy loss,” but actually strips coroners and law enforcement of tools to investigate suspicious infant deaths. Because apparently, in Olympia, justice is just too triggering.

The bill repeals the crime of “concealing a birth” and removes coroners from investigating stillbirths, abortions, and premature infant deaths—unless someone bothers to prove there was criminal activity up front. Great system. Nothing says “compassion” like looking the other way when a trafficked teen delivers a baby in secret and no one knows what happened next.

Republicans like Rep. Jim Walsh and former Chelan County Sheriff Rep. Brian Burnett fought hard to add common-sense amendments—like keeping coroner review intact if a baby might have been born alive. Democrats rejected every single one.

Burnett, whose own adopted daughter is a trafficking survivor, gave gut-wrenching testimony about what these victims endure: forced pregnancies, miscarriages, coerced abortions, and babies disappearing with zero accountability. His plea? Don’t tie law enforcement’s hands.

But nope. Democrats weren’t interested in real-world consequences. Democrat Rep. Chris Stearns even shut Burnett down mid-sentence when he dared to question the motives behind this performative bill.

Walsh said it best: this isn’t about dignity—it’s virtue-signaling for the abortion lobby, and it’s a gift to pimps, traffickers, and abusers who now get one less reason to worry about legal consequences.

The bill passed. It’s now on Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk, and thanks to its emergency clause, it’ll take effect immediately once he signs it.

So here we are: in Washington, a trafficker’s rights just got more protection than the infant they helped bring into the world. Progress. Read more at Center Square.

Marching for a Tax That’s Already Dead—Because Math Is Hard

On April 12, progressive activists from Invest In Washington Now will march through Bellevue—from the Tesla dealership (yes, really) to Amazon’s offices—to demand a wealth tax that even Gov. Bob Ferguson won’t touch. Why? Because it’s legally doomed and wouldn’t actually fix the mess Democrats made.

The wealth tax was pitched as a cure-all, supposedly raising $4 billion. The problem? The budget shortfall is $16 billion, and even Ferguson admitted the idea would crumble in court. So the bill is dead—but hey, never let reality get in the way of a good protest.

Sen. Jamie Pedersen says the party has “plans B, C, and D,” which likely include property tax hikes and deep budget cuts—because who doesn’t love paying more and getting less?

Meanwhile, left-wing agitators crashed the Capitol demanding no cuts and no furloughs, which just leaves one option: tax the middle class harder.

So if you’re in Bellevue and wondering why people are protesting at a luxury car dealership for a defunct tax plan—welcome to Washington politics. Read more at MyNorthwest.com.

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