Author Archives: ericcampbell

Republican leaders call for special session to fix confusing, controversial police reform bills

Democrat sponsor of legislation admits fixes are necessary

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, issued the following statement in response to continued Democrat insistence in the press that law enforcement and legislators are overreacting to controversial new laws on policing that lack clarity and endanger the public, police and first responders.

“Our offices have received emails from people who are not just concerned about the effects of House Bills 1310 and 1054, but are seriously afraid for their safety and the well-being of their family members. We have also heard from local government officials who have questions about the ambiguous and conflicting language of the legislation. It’s telling that Democrats are dismissing the concerns and feedback from those with a lifetime of law enforcement experience who are being honest and forthcoming in their assessment of the current situation.

“Although legislators make decisions on behalf of the public all the time, it’s elitist and condescending for those who support these bills to ignore the suffering we are seeing across the state and assert that they know best. Nothing is more important than public safety. It’s foundational.

“Some have pointed out that members of law enforcement were consulted in the process of developing the legislation – as if that makes law enforcement complicit in the harm the laws are doing. In reality, law enforcement’s hands were tied. They tried to engage in the process knowing it was not likely to result in substantially improved policy – they were instead hoping for the least-harmful bills possible, knowing the majority could pass whatever they wanted. And that’s what they did. Democrats passed exactly the bills they wanted over the objections of citizens, Republican legislators and many in law enforcement.

“The sponsor of the bills now apparently says that fixes are needed. We could not agree more. Republicans have called for a special session to address this matter and are ready to contribute to bipartisan, reasonable revisions right away. The legislation never should have passed in its current form. Democrats didn’t want substantial ‘fixes’ during the process because they felt they already knew the right answers. Now they’ve had to ask the attorney general to rescue them from a fiasco that might have been avoided if they hadn’t been in such a rush. That’s no way to make good policy.

“Public safety is a priority for Republicans. We will continue to be supportive of legislation that is balanced. But when considering policies, those with decades of policing experience must be more involved. Their expertise should be drawn upon, not dismissed. We all want members of law enforcement to be accountable and respectful to the neighborhoods they serve. But hamstringing their ability to protect the public and themselves is wrong and dangerous.”

Click here for audio version

Learn more:
Crisis in criminal justice: How dangerous Democrat policies endanger our communities | Senate Republican Caucus
Why Democrats’ police reform bills have made communities less safe | House Republican Caucus

Republican leaders respond to Gov. Jay Inslee’s new vaccine mandate

OLYMPIA… At a news conference today, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a new vaccine mandate for most state employees, private health care and long-term care workers. House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statement on the announcement:

“Vaccinations can save lives and we have strongly encouraged people to get them. We have been vaccinated ourselves. But getting the vaccine is a personal health-care choice and should not be mandated by any level of government. Threatening to terminate someone’s job if they don’t comply with this requirement is heavy-handed and wrong. The governor should show humility, listen to those who have concerns about the vaccine, and look to provide other options – including incentives.

“Similar to past announcements, we learned of the governor’s decision from the media. Those impacted by his decision, and their state lawmakers, have again been prevented from having a role in this process. This is yet another example of why we need emergency powers reform. Other states have enacted limits on their executive branches, but Democrats in our state have been afraid to challenge Governor Inslee. Call a special session. Give the people a meaningful say in these decisions.”

Republican leaders say people deserve clear answers about state of emergency

 

New proclamation indicates governor will maintain tighter grip at least through September

OLYMPIA… With the state of emergency linked to the COVID-19 pandemic now past the 16-month mark, the state Legislature’s top Republican leaders say Gov. Jay Inslee needs to be up front with the people of Washington about how much longer he intends to maintain additional control over their lives.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox said a new emergency order from Inslee indicates the emergency declared Feb. 29, 2020 will continue at least through September.

“Without a declaration of emergency there can’t be emergency proclamations. Although the governor didn’t come right out and say he’s extending the state of emergency past the end of summer, it isn’t difficult to read between the lines,” said Braun, R-Centralia. “While we’re pleased the governor’s economic restrictions have finally been lifted, it’s hard for him to suggest the people can return to a sense of normalcy unless the emergency is declared over as well.”

“On May 13 the governor was able to declare June 30 would be the statewide reopening date, no matter how many Washington residents had been vaccinated by then. If he could make such a life-changing prediction six weeks in advance, he also should be able to declare when the state of emergency will be over,” said Wilcox, R-Yelm.

“Our state is not designed to be run by one person – especially for this long,” Braun said. “We’re not suggesting the pandemic itself is over. We simply aren’t hearing the governor explain why he should continue to have absolute authority – not when government’s response to the pandemic is clearly focused on vaccinations, and local governments should be trusted to take the lead. If something more serious arises, the legislative branch has proven it can meet quickly to make decisions, using technology if necessary, to ensure the voices of the people are heard.”

The Republican leaders said Inslee’s silence about ending the state of emergency is as perplexing as the refusal by the Legislature’s majority Democrats to even consider simple changes to the state law granting emergency powers to the governor.

“I have constituents asking whether the governor is going out of his way to continue wielding his extra powers,” said Wilcox. “They don’t see the justification for remaining under a state of emergency. Many in the legislative branch have the same concern. It’s time for the executive branch to answer.”

STATEMENT: Promise of good jobs defeated by Inslee’s climate agenda, says Braun

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today after Northwest Innovation Works announced it is pulling the plug on a seven-year effort to construct a $2.3 billion methanol plant at the Port of Kalama.

“Knowing this announcement might come from NW Innovations doesn’t make it any less disappointing. Governor Inslee had supported this project until 2019, when he launched his presidential campaign as the ‘climate change’ candidate and did a quick flip-flop. When the Department of Ecology essentially derailed the permitting process a few months ago, the writing was on the wall.

“The economic boom seen in the Puget Sound area for most of the past decade never reached this part of the state. When NW Innovations came calling, with a solid plan, it was welcomed – until politics got in the way. If the bills passed during this year’s legislative session are any indication, the only things the governor’s climate agenda will produce are higher fuel costs for the people of Washington, regardless of their income level. There’s no reason to believe it will lead to the employment and economic activity Cowlitz County workers and families deserve. The promise of good-paying jobs in this part of Washington has been sacrificed on the altar of environmental activism.”

Don’t force employers to become ‘vaccine police,’ says Braun

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this statement today regarding Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent proclamation requiring employers to verify the COVID-19 vaccination status of employees who wish to work without wearing a mask.

“State government has consistently shown a lack of faith in the people’s ability to take precautions against COVID-19. Those handing down the ‘guidance’ don’t seem to recognize employers have nothing to gain by having either their customers or workers become ill. As more people get a closer look at this proclamation, they’re viewing it as another example of the same distrust and mismanagement seen from the executive branch for most of the past year – and a new way for government to control their lives.

“The governor will let employers have an honor system for customers who don’t want to wear a mask, but workers who don’t want to wear face coverings are automatically suspect? Employers shouldn’t have to become the ‘vaccine police’ for any reason. Senate Republicans have introduced legislation to prevent discrimination based on vaccination status in places of public accommodation. Compare that to how the Department of Labor and Industries is suggesting workers be marked according to their vaccination status.

“Leaders of the Democrat majority in the Legislature realized it would be a mistake to pursue a vaccine-passport policy. Trying to require a workplace passport by proxy is just as much of a mistake. I support vaccinations, and encourage people to consider vaccinations for themselves and their families. I also believe it is a personal choice that should be respected. It is wrong for the government to segregate people based on their vaccination decision. The governor’s emergency powers should not be used for coercion, which is another reason Republicans believe they need to be reformed.”

Senate Republican leader urges teachers’ union to ‘get to yes’ for kids

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this response to a statement from the Washington Education Association, issued after Gov. Jay Inslee declared schools must offer a minimum level of in-person instruction starting in mid-April.

“The lack of access to in-classroom education is the equity issue of our time. The response by the state’s largest teachers’ union seems to be trying to get to ‘no.’ We need to get to ‘yes.’

“That’s a yes for the best educational outcome for our kids. A yes to the best mental-health situation for our kids. A yes to the best future for our kids. Science tells us we can do it safely. Let’s get kids back in the classroom.”

Here is the statement from the WEA:

Braun disappointed by governor’s failure to define next phase of economic restart

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered this statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee indicated Phase 3 of the “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan will not be defined for several more weeks.

“It looks like our entire state has hit a dead end on the governor’s roadmap. His administration has already had seven weeks to figure out what Phase 3 could look like, but now he says it will take several more weeks to ‘gather information’ before deciding what’s next. We should have had the details about Phase 3 already.

“Governor Inslee gave the impression that the number of COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions and other metrics tied to the roadmap may no longer be as relevant. Instead he’s talking about the variants of the virus, and the capability of the vaccines, as though those have become more important. The businesses that are now stuck indefinitely in Phase 2 – which is half as open as they could be four months ago – deserve more clarity than he offered today.

“The governor continues to speak of using ‘science’ in deciding how the regions of our state can move forward, and what that would mean. I would steer him toward the empirical kind of science, meaning he should go and visit some of the businesses affected by his restrictions. Then he can see for himself how they are prepared to take all the precautions necessary to protect their customers and employees, and safely move to a higher level of business activity.

“I’ve been encouraged that the governor is visiting schools to talk about how students can return to classrooms safely. Next time he should also stop by a local restaurant or two, or a fitness center, and gather information. That could help him to define Phase 3 sooner than April.”

Republican senators make new bid to get Washington children back into classrooms

OLYMPIA… A bill to help get children back into classrooms has been introduced by several Republican senators, just as a new report shows Washington is behind nearly every other state in providing in-person instruction.

Senate Bill 5464 was introduced Tuesday, the same day Senate Republican Leader John Braun wrote to Gov. Jay Inslee, encouraging him to do everything under his authority to reopen schools.

“There’s no question that the longer our children are barred from classroom instruction, the more they suffer academically, socially and emotionally. It’s also clear that the shortcomings of remote instruction are being felt disproportionately by rural and lower-income families and communities of color,” said Sen. Lynda Wilson, SB 5464’s prime sponsor. “This is the equity issue of our time.”

Under the bill, schools may not be closed for in-person learning beyond 10 consecutive school days without the approval of the governor, the secretary of health, or a local health officer.

“We recognize that because of the pandemic there are added costs to operating our schools safely, and our Senate Republican budget proposal addresses that. We also know from the past year that being in classrooms is best for our children. Under this new bill, very few people would be able to stand in the way of that,” said Wilson, R-Vancouver.

Braun, R-Centralia, is among the co-sponsors of SB 5464. He noted an online school-opening tracker updated today has Washington ranked 47th among the states, with just 19.2 percent of its students receiving in-person instruction.

“Our children have a right to a level of education that many are still being denied. Being 47th in the nation is equivalent to failure,” he said.

“It’s been encouraging to hear the governor’s recent statements that schools should be able to reopen safely, just as it’s been discouraging to witness some of the recent opposition to opening,” Braun added. “The intent of my letter to the governor was to point out some areas where he can help get students back into classrooms. This new legislation is aimed at the same thing – and at keeping them there.”

Senate Republicans oppose income-tax bill; Braun calls out ‘emergency clause’

OLYMPIA… Last evening a majority on the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to recommend the passage of Senate Bill 5096, which would put a 7-percent tax on income from the sale or exchange of capital assets. The proposal, which is another attempt to impose a state income tax on Washington residents, was requested by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and a member of the committee, said the state’s financial situation doesn’t justify yet another try at a state income tax, and noted that Republicans are offering a better way.

“There is absolutely no need for more taxes. The four-year outlook from the governor’s own budget office undermines the claims we’ve heard that there is a massive deficit. Also, Senate Republicans just put a budget proposal on the table that would maintain services at the same levels endorsed by the governor, support the restart and recovery of our schools and economy, and enable enormous investments in important things around the state – all without needing more taxes.

“The sponsors insist on calling this an ‘excise’ tax, but we know what it really is. The Legislature has seen income-tax bills before. The voters have rejected income-tax bills many times before. What’s new, and worse, about this bill is its blatant misuse of the ‘emergency clause.’ The sponsors know that language shields a new law from being challenged by voters through a referendum. Republicans tried unsuccessfully to remove the emergency clause last evening. It certainly says something that the supporters are so determined to make their new tax voter-proof.

“If this was really about restructuring Washington’s tax code, SB 5096 would not just impose a new tax. It also would reduce or repeal one or more of the regressive taxes already being paid by the people. Last night Republicans also proposed reducing the state sales tax by a small percentage, which would especially help lower-income families. It too was rejected, as were the other Republican amendments. The bottom line is obvious – SB 5096 is a money grab masquerading as tax reform. The people of our state don’t need that, especially at a time like this. The committee’s vote to move this bill forward was disappointing, but Republicans will continue to defend the taxpayers by opposing harmful tax policies like this and supporting the sensible approach found in our new budget proposal.”