Making Washington a place to prosper.

Elected officials have changed their tune on public safety – time will tell whether they mean it

Looming elections have a way of making politicians appear pragmatic. As public opinion sours on our state’s handling of the crime crisis – some Democrats are shifting their stance to stay in step. The question for voters is whether they believe that the sudden course correction will last past November. After staying silent on the...

By Brandi Kruse

Inflation is pushing Washington’s already-high cost of living even higher

Washingtonians squeezed despite record surplus Washington is already one of the most expensive states to live in – and inflation is making it even less affordable. The cost of living in the evergreen state is 13% higher than the national average. Housing and healthcare are each 22% above the national average, while transportation is 18%...

[un]Divided: The system must do better for survivors

On [un]Divided, Brandi Kruse hears the story of a woman who is speaking out about her attempted rape and how her attacker might not serve any time for the crime due to his mental state. One of the biggest challenges to Washington’s public safety crisis is how to prosecute violent offenders who are mentally ill....

Inslee’s emergency powers aren’t really going away

Last week Governor Jay Inslee announced he’d end the state of emergency for COVID-19 on Oct. 31, mere days before the November election. The state of emergency declaration has remained in place since Feb. 29, 2020, a period of more than 900 days. The reality is that regardless of what actually transpires (or expires) on...

Washington state is worth fighting for

I have been covering politics for about a decade in Washington state, but it’s getting harder to live here. More and more people are suffering on our streets, falling deeper into mental illness and drug addiction. People are also being killed at record numbers. This is not a future we deserve, so let’s change it....

By Brandi Kruse

Natural gas ban will make Seattle even more unaffordable

In February 2021 the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in favor of a new building code banning the use of natural gas in all new commercial and residential buildings over three stories high.

Ferry solutions fail to address actual problems

Commuters in the state of Washington have suffered these last few years with unreliable ferry service. Unlike some states where such transport options are more for leisure than practicality, Washingtonians rely on the ability to take a ferry to work, doctor’s appointments – you name it. Ferries are an integral part of the state’s transportation...

How new pursuit law has led to increased crime

In 2021 violent crime increased in Washington state by more than 12 percent compared to the year prior. That includes 325 murders, the most ever recorded since the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) first started to collect data in 1980. This enormous increase in crime did not come about randomly but was...

Gov. Inslee opposes gas tax relief

While other states are rolling back gas taxes, Inslee opposes such relief Record inflation is a problem all over the country, but especially in Washington state where Governor Inslee is refusing much-needed tax relief to Washingtonians. Prices increased in May at their fastest pace since 1981#waleg pic.twitter.com/0rFa4XLwIb — Office of Financial Management (@WA_OFM) June 22,...

Harman Cheema

“My dad was a driver. He started his own trucking company – just a one-truck deal – in 2006 when I was a sophomore in high school. I helped him from day one, then I took over after I graduated high school, seeing there was an opportunity for quality carriers out there.” “Now, I own...

Washington’s failed response to alarming trends on homelessness

Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development revealed that Washington state is outpacing the nation in terms of homeless population growth. There are now an estimated 23,000 homeless people in the state – roughly the same as it was in 2005 after millions have been spent by both the state and...

Why gas prices in Washington are guaranteed to get worse

Gas prices are at all-time highs throughout the country. However, prices here in Washington are only going to get worse thanks to the new gas tax increase passed by the majority party in Olympia. Washington residents already have some of the most expensive gas prices in the country, which isn’t surprising considering it has one...

Property taxes are making Washington unaffordable

Washington is consistently ranked one of the most expensive states to live in – and property taxes play a large role in that. Since Gov. Jay Inslee took office in 2013, he has spent an incredible amount of money forwarding his agenda. Rather than making cuts in other parts of the budget to pay for that,...