b'2024 State ReportThis early polling, six months before the election, will likelyIn March, a former state economist led a lawsuit against make supporters of the new taxes and many in the state Legisla- his former employer, the Washington State Department of ture nervous. The states new cap-and-invest system has broughtTransportation (WSDOT), the governors ofce and its budget more than $2 billion into the state budget since the rst auction inwing, the Ofce of Financial Management (OFM), for allegedly February 2023, and the capital gains tax fed another $890 millionretaliating against him for refusing to keep quiet about his to the budget during its rst year in 2023. economic forecast on the states gas priceThe Legislature, which is required to spend most cap-and-investLast year Ms. Frame reported for KING-TV: income on environmental initiatives, has allocated some of theFor the last ve years, Scott Smith of Tumwater was a transporta-money toward buying electric school buses, helping utilitiestion planner for the Washington State Department of Transporta-transition to cleaner energy, building hybrid electric ferries andtion (WSDOT). He was the primary WSDOT employee tasked giving some utility customers a rebate. with forecasting fuel consumption, pricing and revenues from gas The rst $500 million collected from the capital gains tax eachtaxes and fees. After 35 years working as a public sector econo-year is reserved for a state fund that pays for K-12 education andmist, Smith said his career was ruined for his refusal to lie about child care programs. The additional dollars are then expected to gohow a new state policy, according to his mathematical calculations into a state account that pays for school construction. in early 2023, would jack up prices at the pump by 45 to 50 cents per gallon. He said the retaliation and pressure were so great he Washingtons long-term care insurance program, WA Cares,felt forced to resign.has been somewhat unpopular since its inception. The programWhen gas prices surged, did the governor admit fault, say that provides eligible Washingtonians with up to $36,500 per person,he should have listened to people warning about consumer pain per lifetime to help pay for nursing care and other services theyand urge repeal of his costly disaster? No, Mr. Inslee went out in may need as they age. But many workers have opted out ofpublic and railed against corporate greed.the 0.58% tax on their paychecks since the program went into effect in July 2023. Supporters say making the program entirelyBack at the ofce, the governor should have been giving Mr. optional may kill it, as the insurance business model depends onSmith a promotion. If Mr. Smiths complaint is accurate, the Inslee contributors to share the cost of outlays.administrations treatment of him was essentially the opposite.Election Year for Governor, House and Senate:Team Inslee might have thought they had put a lid on this issue Change is possible this year in Washington State, as the perfectlast month. Isabella Breda reported for the Seattle Times:storm for reform is brewing. With I-2117 threatening to repeal theAn investigation conducted by a law rm on behalf of the state Climate Commitment Act, a strong republican Gubernatorial can- Department of Transportation has found no merit to most of the didate with Dave Reichert, and legislative races threatening to takeclaims made by a former economist for the agency who alleged traditionally democratic strongholdswe may be in a position tohe was forced out of his job for refusing to violate state law and have balance in Washington.lie about how he believed the states carbon-pricing program was Please remember to vote your heart and encourage all of your em- affecting gas prices.ployees to go to the polls. Their vote does count in a pivotal yearBut Ms. Breda also reported: such as this one. Remember on the Initiatives, Vote Yes Pay Less.The report acknowledges that some of the individuals who were Whistleblower requested to be interviewed declined to do so, and it is unknown on Cost of Climate Policies whether any information they could have provided would have Gets His Day In Court: changed any of the findings in this investigation.The court should allow the public to hear from them now. Article by: James Freeman, WSJ Such testimony would be especially welcome and timely because a November ballot initiative will give Evergreen State voters a Accountability may finally arrive for Governor chance to repeal the Inslee climate program.Insleeover his green policies. Last year this column noted that the whoppers told by Gov. Jay Inslee (D., Wash.) to sell hisRaise the Paddle:climate agenda were being exposed by spiking gasoline prices. Now a legal reckoning may be on the way. In early 2023, as TeamFor a second year, we incorporated a Raise the Pad-Inslee continued to peddle bogus claims of a cheap transition to the governors cap-and-invest system, a state governmentdle fundraiserfor our State PAC fund, and were able to raise economist was warning ofcials that prices at the pump were$43,200 this year at the Convention. While this may sound like about to surge. The economist now says that ofcials did worsean outstanding number, and it is, its still not enough. We need than ignore him. everyone in our membership to participate, support and contribute Susannah Frame reports for Seattles NBC afliate KING-TV:to our PAC fund so we can be prepared to nancially push back on A whistleblower lawsuit against the Washington State Departmentbad policy. If you did not raise your paddle at the Convention, and of Transportation will proceed, according to a Washington judgeswant to do your part, please contact Lea McCullough. We promise ruling on June 21. to make sure your dollars are put to good use. WPMA News / Summer 202449'