Kill the fatted calf. Jay Inslee has announced that he is going to unstick Interstate 405. He is going to reduce the choke point at Highway 527. Since he’s the cause of the traffic mess in the first place, I’d say it’s overdue.

From one side of his mouth he says that many people have made an “investment” and so are using the toll lanes at a much higher than expected rate. From the other side of his mouth he says he is glad he could “help” the drivers of Washington reduce their travel time. What a guy.

And all of this comes six months early. How lucky can we get? Now it couldn’t be that six months later would be after the election and not at all helpful to Gov. Inslee, could it? In the stomach of this magnanimous announcement gurgles the refrain, “Vote for me, vote for me.” Cynical politics as usual from the governor. Don’t you just love it?

Denny Andrews

Bellevue