Washington State Week

WA Democrats resist push for answers on special session  (Policy Center)

State legislatures across the country—from Oregon to Virginia—are reconvening for special summer sessions to address pressing COVID-19 related issues, including balancing state budgets. Unfortunately, though Republican lawmakers continue to call for a special session, Jay Inslee refuses to act responsibly.

Under state law, convening special sessions require action by the governor or a vote by a supermajority of lawmakers. It is clear Jay Inslee will not act. A supermajority vote would require 66 Representatives and 33 Senators. According to the Washington Policy Center’s Jason Mercier, support for a special session among lawmakers stands at 50 Representatives and 25 Senators. The remaining lawmakers did not respond to repeated attempts to gain an answer.
       
Sen. Honeyford warns of possible push by Democrat lawmakers for police limitations  (WSSRC)

Republican State Senator Jim Honeyford—a former police officer—responded to Seattle’s move to defund the police force and the resignation of Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best on The Jason Rantz Show. Honeyford expressed concern for victims of future crimes in Seattle given absurd new regulations, including social workers responding to highly dangerous domestic violence situations.

Honeyford went on to express concern over the possibility of a "Seattle-creep," specifically the likelihood that Democrat lawmakers in Olympia will push legislation that limits the power of the police.

Given the stakes, its essential voters give a strong consideration of the future of law and order in their communities.
       
Inslee launches plan to allocate $40 million to undocumented immigrants   (My Northwest)

Under Jay Inslee’s watch, tens of thousands of Washington families are still waiting to receive unemployment benefits.

The scam that cost the state Employment Security Department (ESD) hundreds of millions resulted in the financial hurt of many people, with no accountability. Yet, despite there being thousands of struggling Washington citizens, Inslee announced he will give $40 million to illegal immigrants as part of a new coronavirus relief fund.

Even after the recent scam, Inslee’s plan includes virtually no accountability for money distribution. Apparently, Inslee will find a nonprofit group to allocate the funds – it’s unclear how an effective verification process will be implemented.

related
Whistleblower calls out state Employment Security Department for incompetence  (Puget Sound Business Journal)

A whistleblower at the state Employment Security Department (ESD) alleges that a senior official “promoted and permitted” changes to computer systems that “left thousands of taxpayers’ accounts unsecured and allowed fraudsters to loot $576 million in unemployment insurance benefits.”

According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, the whistleblower wrote a letter of complaint to the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) in June. Specifically, the whistleblower pointed a systemwide computer script update—“promoted and permitted” by a senior ESD official—as the cause of the stolen and delayed unemployment funds.