Olympia week

Smarter forest management key to preventing megafires (Spokesman Review)

A new op-ed in the Spokesman-Review argues more effective forest management strategies would help prevent megafires, like those currently raging in Washington, Oregon, and California.

Solutions like “thinning forests through logging, prescribed burns and allowing naturally occurring fires to be managed instead of extinguished” must be employed.

Bringing back smarter forest management practices – like thinning, salvaging and logging – prevents air pollution caused by megafires, saves taxpayer dollars, and brings more revenue to the government.

Our state government decided to neglect tending state lands -- they must have made this decision in a smoke-filled room.

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Snohomish County property taxes doubled in the last three years (Washington Policy Center)

State property taxes for schools in Snohomish County doubled over the last three years. Unfortunately, academic achievement hardly improved.

Washington Policy Center’s Liv Finne points out, it’s no wonder voters reached “the limit of school taxes they are willing to pay for an education system that offers families few choices and often produces poor learning outcomes for children.” Under any circumstances, doubling property tax rates places a large financial burden on families.

Given the pandemic and economic shutdowns, the heavy burden makes lives even harder. It’s more important than ever that families receive financial relief – and more school choices.

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Seattle enforces strict measures to stop religious protest; The police-haters get a free pass (770 KTTH)

In an attempt to stop a socially distanced prayer rally and peaceful protest, the City of Seattle fenced off Gas Works Park, and stationed park rangers around and “social distancing ambassadors around the area.

Not surprisingly, Cal Anderson Park – where far-Left rioters store various weapons – has thus far escaped the city’s “preventative” tactics. The city stated that “unpermitted public events” are not allowed to take place in parks.

Apparently, peaceful and socially distanced protests constitute “unpermitted” events, but unlawful rioters hurling homemade weapons at police officers in parks are permitted events.

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Editorial board calls on legislators to “buck Inslee” and call special session (Tri-City Herald)

The Tri-City Herald Editorial board called on state legislators to bypass Jay Inslee and vote to convene a special session to address pressing budget shortfalls brought about by COVID-19 shutdowns.

The state revenue stands to lose nearly $9 billion over the next three years given the economic shutdown. Yet, Inslee still refuses to call a special session.

 State legislators must agree by a 2/3 super-majority threshold to call themselves into a special session – unfortunately, given Democrats’ reluctance, that’s not likely.

Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers will continue to place pressure on Inslee and his fellow Democrats to call a special session.