Washington State reflection this week

Jay Inslee implies new taxes to address budget shortfalls ( KING 5 )

History shows that tax cuts are the best way for the economy to repair itself from gigantic damage such as the COVID19 is inflicting.  But the Democratic Party is so addicted to taxing and spending, they may not be able to do make necessary cuts in spending.

The state budget – which includes record spending passed by Washington state Democrats in March – faces a $4.5 billion shortfall for the current 2019-2021 cycle.

The State’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council predicts another $4.3 billion shortfall for the 2021-2023 budget.

Inslee said relying on spending cuts would inflict “huge damage” on state services.

By contrast, Republican Sen. John Braun said the budget can be balanced without new taxes. Braun and other state Republican lawmakers pushing Inslee to call a special session to make needed spending cuts.
       
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin comes out against raising taxes ( Union Bulletin )

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Editorial Board called on the legislature to cut spending this summer in a special session to avoid even deeper cuts when they go back into regular session in January. They say former Speaker of the House Frank Chopp’s proposal to raise $2 billion in new taxes to help cover the budget deficit created by the COVID-19 economic crisis “makes no sense.”

The Union-Bulletin rightly point outs that the legislature’s current $53 billion budget was based upon a hot, steadily growing economy and needs to be cut back – not maintained by taxing more. Especially by a capital gains income tax, which is not allowed under the state constitution.
       
Jay Inslee threatens to move counties backward in reopening process ( KHQ News )

Jay Inslee said he would not “hesitate to move counties backward in the reopening process” in a recent tweet.

The threat comes as Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, and Island Counties moved into Phase 3, while King County finally moved into Phase 2.

Inslee previously expressed support for recent protests following the death of George Floyd – right after threatening small businesses if they dared reopen.   Inslee has not made any attempt to bring law and order to CHOP – formerly known as CHAZ – despite widespread violations to COVID-19 orders.
       
Washington Employment Security Department’s security failure persisted for years  ( Washington Policy Center )

Problems with fraud at Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) began far earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, explains the Washington Policy Center’s Mark Harmsworth.

For at least a year, the ESD did nothing to address fraud problems despite the state legislature allocating $44 million to specifically fix faulty computer systems. For many years, the ESD’s security mechanism and identification procedures have not adequately protected the “security of the accounts and the privacy of the benefit claimant.”

Unfortunately, ESD’s response to the $650 million stolen by the Nigerian fraud scheme (an added photo verification step) is insufficient to protect private information.
       
Washington State DOH reforms COVID-19 death count process  ( My Northwest )

The Washington State Department of Health admitted to over-counting deaths resulting from COVID-19. Changes to how the state DOH reports COVID-19 deaths include removal of non-COVID-19 deaths from the statewide total and “break down the overall data to include more specific categories.”

Previously, the state DOH counted any person who passed away and also tested positive for COVID-19 as a "death resulting from COVID-19."  This included people who passed away as a result of other causes.