Future 42

Let's assess that "climate leadership" - Left off a biggie from original post. Banning of natural gas. Curiously, the WASC hasn't released a decision yet...isn't there an election going on our something? - CCA adds 50-55 "pennies" to gas and diesel. Substantially increased cost to commuters, mobile biz, and everything on store shelf, which is transported via truck. So wildly popular that WA touted joining the N American common market with the only 2 other placed misguided enough to implement, CA & QC. - CCA promised transparency of results. Had to sue them to get them, still outdated and inaccurate. - CCA/CETA forced conversion of state's residential/commercial energy sources. How's your power bill? - AG community promised exemption from CCA, by statute. Ecology can't develop workable solution, WASC absolves the exemption with recent, "well, they tried" decision. - Adoption of lunatic CARB regs on commercial vehicles, mandating unrealistic EV mandate. Effectively ends sales of new clean diesel vehicles, forcing continued use of older vehicles, substantially worsening emissions because utopia wasn't achievable on their dream induced timeline. This is just the big stuff off the top of my head. The other ridiculous mandates from Seattle know-nothing politicians running Olympia is voluminous.

@engele That depends on how November goes.

I’m genuinely optimistic about WA. Even the most committed folks are talking about what is broken in WA right now. This is a major change from only a year or two ago where there was a a lot more reluctance to just say it as it is. We are going to be okay.

@GovBobFerguson Props to the @LynnwoodTimes , because now we all know the hidden agenda you have, requiring the incomes of parents of these kids applying.

If your family of four makes: $83,500 or less, your college or career training could be free. Up to $139,500, you could get some money for college or training. This legislation will unlock free money for thousands of young people across our state.

Students have to report their parents income as part of the application process. Is this backdoor way for the state to verify income for a future state income tax? @GovBobFerguson @bkheywood @BrandiKruse

"I think if the Legislature takes action and enacts this bill, the number of copper wire thefts in our community will plummet." @KCProsecutor says lawmakers in Olympia could stop the incentive for thieves to steal copper wire and resell it. They passed on the proposal this year. @komonews

The WA state auditor got into a heated argument with a journalist during an interview after refusing to take any sort of interest in flagged daycare fraud. From unDivided's Brandi Kruse: "Anybody should be able to watch that exchange and have some very serious concerns about whether the auditor's office even cares." So the whole daycare fraud situation is either (as Brandi Kruse puts it): Embarrassment over the failure to put any controls in place to protect taxpayer money. or Covering up the fraud because it links back to the Washington Democrats by way of support and political donations. Regardless of which one of those it is, what we do know is that the WA state Auditor deserves a vote of No Confidence. And after that exchange with the journalist... The Auditor's newly launched 'Division of Special Investigations' seems more like a way to keep the heat off, rather than looking into the fraud, waste, and abuse of millions of our tax dollars. Time to bring in the Feds. (You can contact state Auditor Pat McCarthy at: (564) 999-0801 | Pat.McCarthy@sao.wa.gov) @BrandiKruse | unDivided 'Washington auditor brushes off evidence of daycare fraud in tense exchange with reporter'

KOMO POLL: 93% of respondents would vote to revoke the Washington Democrats income tax

SEIU 775's $3 Billion dollar, payroll tax funded WA Cares program is once again in the news because of how poorly thought out it is. Out of 113 initial applicants to receive taxpayer funded long term care, just 44 were approved. That is a 61% denial rate for anyone doing the math. This program has been riddled from the start with hiccups, threatened lawsuits by disabled veterans, do overs, half a million opt-outs, and unpopularity so bad...the program start was delayed by Olympia democrats for years to avoid public blowback. Unfortunately, voters had a chance in 2024 to axe it through I-2124, but decided to keep it around...so here we are with the consequences of our own actions. Dalton Day | @KING5Seattle 'Payroll tax, benefits program WA Cares sees 50% denial rate among early applicants' Article: king5.com/article/news/h…

The dust has settled from the World Cup. The tourists have all left by now. And Seattle's summer has resumed. But the looming question everyone has is: How long can Seattle leaders keep the cleanliness and functionality going, now that the cameras and visitors are gone? Us locals deserve a clean house, too.. @ChrisDaniels_TV | @komonews 'Amid rave reviews, how does Seattle build on its World Cup momentum?' Article: komonews.com/news/local/ami…

@GovBobFerguson It's great if you ignore all of the other reports and data that say otherwise. Like this recent one from the NFIB... x.com/future42org/st…

Washington state has moved up several spots in CNBC's ranking for Top States for Business, landing at #11. We're a great state to do business and have a lot to be proud of — this ranking shows that we lead in economy (#5), workforce (#6), and technology and innovation (#4). We also have many challenges as a state, including affordability and lack of a strategic plan. That's why we recently took the next step to build Washington's economy, convening top leaders in our state to form the Governor's Economic Development Council. The work we do in the coming months will ensure Washington remains a place that attracts business and where people want to start and expand a business.

EXCLUSIVE: In 2025, Starbucks sent a letter to Gov Bob Ferguson warning him that passing higher taxes would have "unintended long-term economic consequences that will disproportionately impact Washington-based businesses." The coffee giant urged him to veto the bills because "imposing new taxes on certain elements of our staffing, IT, security, and advertising functions that are based out of our local headquarters would dramatically increase costs, putting us at a competitive disadvantage to companies based in other states." The company warned that imposing a new B&O surcharge "will also make it more difficult for us to make vital investments in Washington." Ferguson ignored the warning. Starbucks announced it was expanding to Nashville earlier this year, laying off employees in Washington and hiring 2,000 people in Tennessee

@MaryFolkerts The rough estimates we hear from actual boots on the ground are a 75 to 90% addiction rate among unsheltered homelessness.

@future42org Do not mix up the drug addicts with the homeless they are Not the same

Over 200 drug addicts, murderers, sex traffickers, and vagrants live in the massive Olympia homeless camp known as "The Jungle". KOMO's Jeremy Harris calls it "Shocking. Easily one of the worst homeless encampments in years." It recently came into the public eye (again) after a missing teenager from Arizona was rescued by federal agents there. The camp may sound familiar because last year, it was the scene of human burn pits where homicide victims were incinerated. But worst of all... The progressive Mayor of Olympia Dontae Payne and the City Council have no intentions on taking action and clearing the camp. But you can take action today and call the Mayor at 360.753.8447. You can also show up to Council meetings held every Tuesday at 6pm, at the Olympia City Hall. @JeremyHarrisTV | @komonews 'Olympia has no timeline for clearing 'The Jungle' encampment' Article: komonews.com/news/local/cit…

@davestrom6 This is about workplace safety.

@future42org Now you are for environmental protection?

It took 11 people being killed in a tragic industrial accident, but the Washington Department of Labor and Industries is now going to start inspecting other similar paper mill holding tanks as the one that exploded in Longview. This change in accountability comes after it was reported that the state does NOT currently inspect these tanks that contain chemicals so corrosive, they instantly dissolve fat into a soap like substance. You would think Olympia would be a leader in industrial safety with our long time aerospace, timber, and boat building industries, but here we are. @HeatherBosch | @KIRO7Seattle 'State investigating nine more mills in aftermath of paper mill explosion that killed 11' Article: kiro7.com/news/local/ins…

Worth noting how much faster admin staff growth has been, far beyond the investment in teachers and the growth in students. (and those Non-Teaching Certified Staff are WEA members). @future42org @stevemur @letsgowa

The National Federation of Independent Business just released their report on small business, and the results in Washington state are not good. From the report conclusion: "Washington is a beautiful, high-income, and diverse state. But it has challenges. Its unemployment rate is high and rising, and its small businesses are struggling. Its Small Business Optimism Index is much worse than the U.S. overall, and Washington owners report worse small business health. When you try to understand why, two major problems stand out. At the top of the list is labor. Small businesses are not hiring, and a major reason why is because it is much more costly to do so in Washington than in the rest of the country. A second reason for their struggles is regulation, which the data suggests is much more challenging for Washington small businesses than for those elsewhere. Washington is a difficult place to operate a small business right now, and the data sends clear signals why." TL;DR Small businesses here are struggling with high labor costs, government over-regulation, and high taxes. Have a read for yourself: nfib.com/wp-content/upl… @nfib_wa

Confused about the Washington Supreme Court candidates about to appear on your August primary ballot? Full Court Press just released a new website that breaks down who is is running, their background, and more. Ballots begin being mailed out on July 18th, so don't delay looking into these important races. Link: wasupremecourt.org @FullCourtWA

For the first time in 55 years, Seattle did not have a homicide in June. Not only that, but the murder count only sits at 15. For context; Seattle recorded its most deadly year ever in 2023, with 74 murders. Charlie Harger discusses how more police officers, some major help from federal law enforcement, and getting back to the basics of community policing should all be given most of the credit. Now that the games are over...we hope to see the city continue adding police officers and not treating them like the criminals they are stopping. @KIROCharlie | @KIRONewsradio 'Seattle had 74 homicides in all of 2023. This past June, it had zero, the first murder-free month since 1970'