Olympia week in revolt.

Inslee’s threatens small farms  (KING5 TV)

Jay Inslee’s new set of overbearing restrictions on agritourism threatened to put small family-run farms out of business for good. (KING5 TV)

Visitors at Leavenworth Reindeer Farm were not “allowed to view animals, let alone pet them”, making it impossible for the business to remain open. In fact, the small farm – and others like it – faced a $10,000 fine for each day that they are open.  That’s forced closures to visitors, which means no income.

Meanwhile, Inslee’s new edicts did not impact city zoos – just rural small businesses.  Why do rural businesses always seem to get more restrictions than they deserve and the short end of the stick compared to urban businesses?  Could it be the corrupt Mr Inslee thinks a independent business is more likely to support Republicans, so he punishes them? 

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Employment Security Department (ESD) debacle continues with unemployed Washingtonians ordered to send back money (My Northwest)

The ESD exhibited astonishing incompetence that led to the preventable loss of hundreds of millions to fraud.

Months later – with zero accountability following the debacle – ESD has left 20,000 people waiting for their unemployment benefits.  Worse, those who have received unemployment benefits are now being asked to send the money back.

One small business owner filed for unemployment after being forced to temporarily close his business. After months delay in issuing the unemployment benefits, the ESD is now asking the small business owner to pay back all the money he received due to a “backdated” issue.

Given the small business owner (and many like him) followed ESD’s original rules, this latest blunder represents just another example of bureaucratic incompetence plaguing our state.


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Calls continue to grow for special session of state legislature  (Policy Center)

More and more voices are speaking up, demanding that Jay Inslee call a special session and allow state lawmakers to address serious budget issues brought about by COVID-19 shutdowns.

For months, Republican lawmakers have called on Inslee and Democrats to support a special session. This week, GOP State Senator Hans Zeiger urged support writing, “There are also roles in the balance of state powers that belong to the legislature as the elected representatives of the people, and that it is right for us to assert.”

Editorial boards who have called on Inslee to convene a special session include the Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, Vancouver Columbian, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, and Yakima Herald-Republic.