Turns out, if you spend all your money on shiny new projects instead of fixing what you’ve got, things break. Who knew?

Washington’s Roads Are Crumbling—and WSDOT’s Solution Is to Ask for Billions More

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is once again warning that the state’s highway system is literally falling apart—and this time, they say it’s not a drill. Despite having one of the highest gas taxes in the country, Washington’s roads are ranked among the worst in the nation, and officials now say they’ll need another $8 billion over the next decade just to keep things from collapsing—literally.

According to WSDOT’s Troy Suing, the agency has done everything it can to “squeeze out” the last bit of life from the system, but at this point, they’re “just trying to keep roadways open.” Translation: we’ve entered the duct tape and prayer phase of transportation management.

In 2024 alone, 7,900 lane miles of highway were overdue for repaving—but only 670 miles got done. Another 9,000 miles will hit their expiration date in the next ten years. Meanwhile, bridge maintenance is so neglected that some engineers are scavenging replacement parts off eBay for 1950s-era equipment. Yes, the same place you buy Beanie Babies.

Officials admit the agency has shifted from “proactive” maintenance to triage—fixing things only when they’re about to fail. The result? Small problems become big emergencies that cost even more.

So, after years of prioritizing flashy new construction over basic upkeep, WSDOT is now warning the Legislature that the bill is coming due—complete with crumbling bridges, pothole-riddled highways, and a price tag that keeps getting bigger. Read more at Center Square.

Signatures Soaring, Tempers Exploding

Let’s Go Washington is crushing it—both of its initiatives are not only ahead of schedule but shattering records. The parental rights measure has racked up over 183,000 signatures, while the girls’ sports fairness initiative has nearly 200,000, putting them at 59% and 65% of the way there.

And here’s the part that’ll make the activists clutch their pearls: more than half of the first 60,000 signatures came from Democrats and Independents, proving that knowing what your kid learns in school and keeping girls’ sports for girls isn’t exactly a “far-right” fever dream.

Founder Brian Heywood says the campaign is speeding along “at a blistering pace,” even as signature gatherers deal with harassment, theft, and actual assaults. LGW’s “Attack Tracker” has logged nearly 40 incidents—because apparently, nothing motivates the opposition like people peacefully signing petitions.

Despite the chaos, Heywood says the campaign’s momentum only grows stronger: “It’s not extreme to believe parents deserve transparency. It’s not extreme to protect girls in sports.” Signatures will keep rolling in through December 19th, no matter how many tantrums it triggers. Read more at Seattle Red.

WDFW’s Public Records Game: Hide, Seek, and Stall

The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) has filed an amicus brief with the Washington Supreme Court, supporting a challenge against the Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) for its slow-motion handling of public records tied to the 2022 spring bear hunt cancellation.

The case began when the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (SAF) sued WDFW after the agency took over 600 days to cough up records about how commissioners killed the hunt—allegedly using private text messages for official business. A Thurston County judge let WDFW off the hook in August, ruling the delays were reasonable. SAF appealed, and now CADF and The Center Square are weighing in.

At the heart of CADF’s brief is a simple question: when does “installment delivery” become “constructive denial”? In other words, if an agency keeps promising records but never actually delivers them, is that just bureaucratic molasses—or a violation of the Public Records Act?

CADF’s Jackson Maynard says agencies shouldn’t be allowed to “breadcrumb” the public with endless delays. “Doing so undermines the purpose and spirit of the Public Records Act,” he said. The Center Square’s Dan McCaleb put it more bluntly: “When governments withhold public records, you have to wonder what they’re trying to hide.”

For an agency that manages wildlife, WDFW seems awfully good at playing possum. Read more at Center Square.

Democrats Tax the Internet (Because Why Make Sense?)

Washington Democrats’ shiny new 10% tax on digital advertising was sold as a way to “make tech giants pay.” But surprise—it’s actually small businesses, nonprofits, and local creatives getting slammed with the bill.

Spokane business owner Frank Swoboda of Corner Booth Media told The Jason Rantz Show that the new law is already a nightmare. “You’re taxing digital ads and video production, but not broadcast or radio,” he said. “Why is my work taxed, but TV commercials get a pass?” Great question—no good answer.

The so-called “tech tax” will hike prices for small firms by over 10%, threatening everything from local awareness campaigns about homelessness to efforts tackling the fentanyl crisis. For companies like Swoboda’s, digital outreach was the affordable, effective alternative to old-school media. Now it’s just another government cash grab.

And with barely two weeks of official guidance, confusion reigns. Businesses are scrambling to figure out what’s taxable and what’s not—while some are eyeing the Idaho border as a cheaper, saner option.

Swoboda summed it up best: “Most people just go, ‘What?’ This makes no sense.” That’s probably the most honest review of Olympia’s tax policy yet. Read more at Seattle Red.

Nick Brown’s New Reality Show: Survivor – Rule of Law Edition

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown—yes, the former Survivor contestant who somehow lost both the game and the plot—wants to make sure illegal immigrants get a 72-hour warning before ICE inspections. His so-called Immigrant Worker Protection Act would force employers to tip off employees if federal agents are about to check work eligibility documents.

Brown insists it’s about transparency. Translation: it gives illegal workers a head start to hide, flee, or “get their documentation in order.” The AG’s office even claims this bill would let workers “make plans with their families.” Because nothing says compassion like undermining federal law.

The proposal mirrors policies in California, Oregon, and Illinois—states already famous for their “ICE-free zones.” And it comes just months after ICE raids in Bellingham and Kent exposed dozens of fake work documents and illegal hires. Instead of tightening verification, Washington Democrats want to shield the problem, not solve it.

If Brown really cared about protecting workers, he’d back E-Verify to ensure jobs go to legal residents. Instead, he’s asking taxpayers for $400,000 to fund outreach groups that teach illegal workers how to avoid ICE.

In short, the message from Olympia is clear: follow the law, get punished; break the law, get a warning. It’s “equity,” Democrat-style—where accountability is optional, but political theater is fully funded. Read more at Seattle Red.

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