’Twas the Month Before Session

’Twas the month before session in Olympia’s hall,
The budget was blown, but Democrats shrugged it off all.
The books were in red, the numbers a mess,
So Democrats asked, “What else can we tax next?”

The spending ran wild, no limit, no brake,
Each program “essential,” each cut a mistake.
They promised no hikes with a knowing little grin,
Then raised fees and taxes and called it a win.

Outside, crime climbed higher on streets left to rot,
But accountability somehow just… wasn’t a thought.
Repeat offenders roamed, “justice” redefined,
While victims were told to be patient and kind.

Yet still from the chambers rang confident cheer:
“More money will fix it — just not this year.”
And they whispered goodnight, as the bill totals grew:
“Happy holidays, Washington — the tab’s on you.”

Deck the Halls — and Lock the Files

In the spirit of holiday cheer, Washington Democrats are pushing Senate Bill 5892, a bill that neatly wraps voter registration data in red tape and ties a felony bow around county election officials who step out of line.

Requested by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, the bill centralizes all public records requests involving the statewide voter database inside his office. County auditors — the officials who actually handle these requests every day — are ordered to hand everything over and keep their hands off. Slip up? Congratulations: you could be looking at a class C felony.

Republican Party Chairman and state Rep. Jim Walsh says the message is clear: this isn’t about protecting data, it’s about intimidating local officials and chilling transparency. Instead of targeting bad actors, Democrats are threatening the people tasked with running elections.

The timing makes the package even more suspicious. As Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon pursues voter registration audits nationwide, Washington suddenly decides now is the moment to centralize control, block county cooperation, and slap an “emergency” label on the bill so it takes effect immediately.

Merry Christmas from Olympia: fewer audits, more secrecy, and felony charges under the tree — all in the name of “public safety,” of course. Read more at Seattle Red.

Silent Night, Bloated Debt

Just in time for the holidays, Washington Democrats have decided pensions are the perfect place to swipe a credit card. Using ESSB 5357, lawmakers jacked up the assumed rate of return on state pensions and took a four-year “holiday” from paying down old pension debt — all so they could spend more money now and let future taxpayers deal with the hangover.

Even State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti admits the math is ugly: underfunded pensions are the most expensive debt there is, costing the state 7–8% a year in lost returns. But Democrats waved away the warning, using a classic accounting trick to magically erase $5.4 billion in liabilities without changing how the money is actually invested.

They also stopped paying down debt in the long-closed PERS 1 and TRS 1 plans — basically borrowing from retirees to fund today’s spending spree. The result? Roughly $6.5–$7 billion in new long-term costs that didn’t exist before.

Governor Bob Ferguson’s team calls it “short-term relief.” The Treasurer, the state actuary, and basic arithmetic call it gambling with retirement security.

Merry Christmas, Washington — the pensions are lighter, the debt is heavier, and the bill’s been gift-wrapped for the next generation. Read more at the Washington Policy Center.

Santa Brought a Pay Raise — and a Price Hike

Just in time for the holidays, Washington Democrats are boosting the statewide minimum wage to $17.13 an hour, once again claiming the title of highest in the nation. The increase is automatic, tied to inflation, which means no debate — just higher labor costs baked right in.

In the Puget Sound region, it’s even merrier. Seattle jumps to $21.30, with Tukwila, Burien, Renton, Everett, and SeaTac all north of $20 for many employers. That’s great news if you think menus, services, and entry-level jobs grow on trees.

Of course, these mandates will drive up prices even and shrink job opportunities — a concern Democrats dismiss like stale eggnog. And with mayor-elect Katie Wilson taking office, expect even more holiday “generosity” in the new year.

Merry Christmas, Washington — the raise is real, and so is the bill. Read more at Axios.

Merry Christmas

As we celebrate Christmas, we’re reminded that this season is about hope, generosity, and responsibility to one another — values that still matter deeply here in Washington.

At Shift WA, we’re grateful for everyone who believes our state can do better: safer communities, affordable living, accountable government, and policies that actually work for the people who pay the bills and play by the rules.

Christmas is a time to reflect, recharge, and look ahead with purpose. In the year to come, we’ll keep pushing for common sense, transparency, and leadership that puts families and communities first — not politics, not excuses.

From all of us at Shift WA, we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a joyful, peaceful holiday season.