Seattle Liberal Jay Inslee “Governing By Phone” As His Failing Presidential Campaign Costs Taxpayers

As Washington State Democrat Governor Jay Inslee’s presidential campaign crashes and burns – the two-term governor is currently sitting at less than 0.5 percent in the Real Clear Politics polling average – the people of his state are left dealing with his absentee leadership. 

Q13 FOXreports that Inslee has been “governing by phone,” since he launched his presidential bid, spending most of his time campaigning outside of the state he was elected to govern. From the report:

But three months later, Washington state is frequently without its elected leader.

From March 1 to June 1, Governor Inslee spent at least 60 days campaigning. Most of those days – 47 – were spent out of state.

It’s not just Inslee’s bills that are piling up on the taxpayer dime. When he’s out of state the Lt. Governor and other elected leaders have to fill in – at a hefty additional cost:

Most often, as dictated by law, Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib fills the role of acting governor. He, too, receives WSP [Washington State Police] security during that time – and a sizable pay bump.

From March 1 to June 3, Habib has served as acting governor 49 times, according to his office.

Inslee has been excoriated in recent months by Washington State editorial boards for forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for his presidential campaign travels.

“Seattle liberal Jay Inslee’s failing presidential bid shows no signs of momentum, but taxpayers are still on the hook to fund his vanity project,” said RGA Communications Director Amelia Chassé Alcivar. “Washington State deserves better than absentee leadership from a governor more interested in exploring his delusional ambitions than doing his job.”