By Cindy Alia 1/21/26

If you're between 20 and 40 in Washington right now, you're likely feeling the squeeze: rent keeps climbing, home prices are out of reach, student loans linger, and every paycheck seems to disappear faster than the last. Saving for a down payment or even just building an emergency fund can feel impossible. Government decisions—especially when agencies get stretched too thin—play a bigger role in that struggle than most people realize. And right now, the Department of Commerce (DOC) is a perfect example of how overload in Olympia ripples straight into your wallet and your future.

Governance 101: Resources Must Match Responsibilities

By Cindy Alia 1/16/26

Ecology's unsurprising over-reach in interpreting incorrectly a federal law about stream tempuratures applying it to non fish bearing streams thereby expanding no touch buffers in forestry.

Credit to Washington Forest Protection Association

By Cindy Alia 1/14/26

HB 2294 Prohibiting negative use restrictions on real property that have the effect of limiting consumer access to food and medicine.  Is another leap for the Socialist Nanny State to make sure Private Property Owners behave exactly as the bil sponsors imagine they should for the benefit of those living nearby that property for the purpose of maintaining or increasing food and medicine access.  

The bill directly interferes with property rights through eliminating negative use restrictions for a property agreement.  Here is an overview of concerns with this prohibitive bill:

I. Introduction: Overview of Concerns with the Proposed Bill

By Cindy Alia 1/5/26

Concise Analysis of HB 2089 (Wildfire Alleviation Support Act) –

The Core Change:

Effective July 1, 2026, the bill amends RCW 82.04.29005 by removing the "located in more than ten states" qualifier for banking institutions. This eliminates the B&O tax deduction for interest on residential first mortgages (previously available to lenders operating in 10 or fewer states), subjecting all such interest income to Washington's B&O tax at the service rate (~1.5–1.8%).

Stated Intent vs. Actual Effect –

12/4/2025

By Cindy Alia

The idea of an unconstitutional income tax on Washington's citizens is especially daunting when viewed from to lens of those already over taxed and over burdened.  We all want to keep more of the money we earn, but taxation especially stings and hits hard when it is collected then wasted by poor oversight, lack of meaningful auditing, and self serving programs.  People are aware of these faults and at some point will vote with their feet, increased taxation feeds this behavior.

December 4, 2025

By Dominique Scarimbolo, CAPR King County President

King County’s Outside Counsel Monopoly: How Taxpayer Dollars Are Used to Block Taxpayers

Through extensive public-records requests, CAPR has uncovered a deeply troubling pattern inside King County government: the County has spent over $56 million on outside legal counsel since the year 2000—despite already employing hundreds of attorneys in-house.

The records we obtained show 20,334 payments to 1,607 different payees, with a staggering $43.6 million (about 78%) of all spending going to 629 private law firms. These are not small solo practices—many are major institutional firms with the staff, resources, and litigation power normally needed to stand up to government agencies.

By Cindy Alia 1/16/26

Update on the Robert Greiff Water Rights Case

Credit to Don Jenkins and Mathew Weaver, Capital Press

Ecology Not Telling Lawmakers Whole Story About Farmer Consultant Says

Posted by Cindy Alia 11/21/2025

Featured Guest Writer Steve Busch

An article from the OMOTS Website 

By Cindy Alia 11/21/2025

Media is quick to publish stories related to the phrase "food deserts" and blaming it for the most part on evil corporations that market foods.  There are a lot of reasons for the so called food deserts, including corporate decision making on the vialbility of certain locations impacted by crime, theft, or other societal ills that make doing business at a given location that is unpoliced too much of a business challenge. 

October 8, 2025 by Cindy Alia

King County has posted its proposed budget for the next biennial and you can review it here:  https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive/governance-leadership/performance-strategy-budget/budget/2026-2027-budget  comments you may have can be sent to the county at this email: budget.council@kingcounty.gov 

Below, you will find a comment provided to the county with an overview geared at implementing cost savings through targeted cuts and fraud detection improvements:

Date: October 8, 2025
Subject: Targeted Budget Cuts and Enhanced Fraud Prevention Measures

Dear King County Council,