Olympia this week

Inslee vetoes COVID-related provision in racial equity analysis bill (Washington State Legislature)

Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed Senate Republican Leader John Braun's amendment to Senate Bill 5405, which mandates a racial equity analysis by the nonpartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC).

Braun's amendments required a racial equity analysis of the in-person K-12 education restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state Senate passed the amendment on a 47-2 vote.

Inslee excused his veto by saying the Washington Student Achievement Council – an agency that focuses on higher education and not K-12 – conducts a broader review of racial inequities in K-12 education. 

In response, Braun stated, "The racial and economic disparities that are a direct result of remote instruction under the governor's proclamations during the COVID-19 pandemic are severe... we need to understand what inequities were exacerbated or created by our response to the pandemic." 

Inslee's veto gives the appearance of an attempt to cover up the consequences of his decision to close schools.

~~~~~~~~
        
Inslee sparks outrage with questionable line-item veto (Washington Policy Center)

During the 2021 legislative session, Democrat lawmakers cut a deal in their attempt to make a High Carbon Fuel Standard (HCFS) and a Cap and Tax new cost realities for families across the state. Lawmakers made the two plans contingent on a future transportation tax package. 

This week, Inslee vetoed the contingency.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun stated, "A court ruled that the governor illegally used his veto power in 2019. Today, the governor ignored that by vetoing a subsection of one of his highest priority environmental bills.  The Constitution is clear – the governor may not veto anything less than an entire section of a bill. Maybe he's emboldened by the sweeping authority he continues to have because majority Democrats refused to address emergency-power reform."

~~~~~~~~
        
Second lawsuit filed against state income tax on capital gains  (Seatle Times) 

Democrats' attempt to bypass the state's constitutional law and force a state income tax on capital gains continues to provoke lawsuits. 

Last week, former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna filed a lawsuit alleging that, contrary to Democrat claims, the new tax is – in fact – an illegal income tax. McKenna filed the lawsuit in the Douglas County Superior Court on behalf of "several state residents, including owners of farms and manufacturing businesses, investors, and the Washington State Farm Bureau."

The lawsuit also seeks a court order to block the imposition of the new state income tax. 

The Opportunity for All Coalition, a nonprofit group backing the lawsuit, successfully struck down an income tax passes by the city of Seattle in 2017.

"Supporters of the [income] tax, including education and child care advocates, denounced the lawsuit as an attempt to protect the state’s wealthiest residents from paying their fair share," according to the Seattle Times article.  That line of reasoning isn't credible given that the Democrat controlled legislature increased  taxation by about $5 billion with $59 billion in spending ($8,400 per person).

~~~~~~~~
        
Inslee signs two bills at once, raises legal questions (Crosscut)

Lawmakers passed two bills aimed at expanding high-speed internet in rural areas. Problematically, the two bills may partly cancel each other out. 

Rather than take leadership, Gov. Jay Inslee signed both measures into law at the same time – one with his left hand and the other with his right hand.  He did so with the cameras off, a clear sign he knew something is not right. As a result, confusion over the legality of both bills co-existing is building.  At the request of the Secretary of State's Office, the Thurston County Superior Court will likely weigh in and provide guidance. 

One thing remains clear – the pandemic demonstrated the need for more reliable internet connections in rural areas. The lack of reliable internet places adults and children at a disadvantage, making it impossible to access telemedicine services or remote work/online schooling.