Author Archives: kimberlywirtz

Cutoff highlights refusal to address emergency powers — one of many majority Democrat failures, say top Senate Republicans

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks after Sunday’s legislative deadline for bills that passed in their house origin to be considered by the opposite chamber.

Bills that did not pass in both chambers by Sunday’s cutoff are considered ‘dead’ except for those considered necessary to implement the budget, such as the income tax proposed by Democrats. Bills passed in both chambers without further modification head to the governor’s desk to be considered for signing. Those that now contain additional amendments head back to their house of origin where legislators can either accept or refuse the changes before sending the bills to Gov. Jay Inslee.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia:

“We figured the Democrat majority would stand with the governor, instead of listening to the people, on his income tax, his cap-and-tax scheme and his high-cost fuel standards bill. We didn’t expect the majority would refuse to join us in making simple, bipartisan improvements to the emergency-powers law, now that we’ve all seen how it has been applied to our constituents. It’s stunning to realize that in less than two weeks the people will be right back where they were for most of 2020, with one person able to control the most fundamental aspects of daily life — and with the people’s direct representatives having limited ability to intervene. I don’t understand why the Democrats seem afraid to insist that the legislative branch must have authority to review not just some, but every single one of the emergency proclamations that affect their constituents. Add in the new policies that would hinder law enforcement, and families have even less reason to feel secure.

“Some of what we’re seeing has been on the Democrats’ wish list for years, but these policies simply don’t work for all of Washington. It’s no coincidence that this is happening while Democrat leaders have put themselves in a virtual bubble, with a fence conveniently separating them from the faces and the voices of the people.”

Senate Republican Caucus Chair Ann Rivers, R-La Center:

“Actions speak louder than words. I hear my colleagues in the Democratic majority talk about being ‘progressive’ and ‘putting people first’ and applying an ‘equity lens’ – then they pass bills that are regressive, and put government first, at the expense of the poor and the historically marginalized communities they claim they want to help. That was really brought home when they passed the cap-and-tax bill and the high-cost fuel standards bill. We’re talking an increase of at least 55 cents per gallon in the cost of fuel, without any real improvements in air quality or roads. Who does that help? It’s going to drive up the cost of everything that involves a truck or a van.”

“So much of what we’ve seen this session, from the lack of access to democracy to these unnecessary new taxes and regulations, is due to nothing more than pure political opportunism. They’ve finally got 25 members who will vote for some of their pet policies, and this is the result.”

Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick:

“There were so many quality bills that didn’t make the cutoff deadline, which makes it even more stunning that the Majority used this session to focus on increasing taxes on Washingtonians.

“With so much money coming into the state through increased tax revenues and billions in federal relief dollars, there was clearly no reason for tax increases this year. I am disappointed that Democrats have used their majorities in the House and Senate to push the creation of a new and most-likely unconstitutional income tax on capital gains, a cap-and-tax scheme that will increase the cost of gas and groceries for working families, and other policies that put our state economy and family household budgets at risk.

“The majority’s insatiable desire for more of the people’s money is nothing short of government greed.”

How is the majority failing the people?

Passed a ‘High Cost Fuel Standard’ and a ‘Cap & Tax’ (see accompanying chart). These are toxically regressive bills which will harm those who can least afford to see their gas costs increase by 55 cents/gallon by 2028. Another 9.8-cent increase is expected to be passed in the form of a gas tax. This total increase of 64.8 cents/gallon nearly doubles our current gas tax, which would give Washington the dubious distinction of having the highest gas tax in the country.
Providing lip service to a goal of equity while passing bills that will harm rural communities, including those who grow our food, inevitably resulting in the collapse of many farms that are barely surviving now. Farm donations to food banks will go down and farmworker unemployment will go up. The price of food will go up, harming lower-income individuals already suffering from food insecurity including children and the urban poor.
Continued inaction by legislative Democrat leadership to exert appropriate legislative oversight over the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Hospitals are not in danger of being overwhelmed, and vaccine distribution is progressing statewide. But Democrat legislative leadership continues to allow the executive branch to operate under emergency powers with no end in sight. This is in contravention to other states with one party control both Democrat (Connecticut) and Republican (Idaho) where the legislatures have announced that emergency powers must be reformed to reestablish separate and coequal powers of the legislative branch. Pass Senate Bill 5039.
Insufficient legislative action on returning the most vulnerable Washington kids back to in-person school. It is SCANDALOUS that union leaders for adults are allowing our children to be harmed – potentially for their entire lives – by not following the science used by the Centers of Disease Control to call for the safe return to the classroom. This is the equity issue of our time. Pass Senate Bill 5464.
Inaction by the majority to a decision handed down by a Supreme Court which continues to act as a super legislature and has effectively legalized the possession of hard drugs in the Washington. It is hoped that Democrat leaders will agree that drug legalization would be disastrous. Pass SB 5471.
The indefinite lockout of the public from directly observing THEIR elected representatives making laws that affect their lives. Sunday was Day 93 — this is beginning the FOURTH MONTH of this lockdown. To put a fine point on it, the Democrats have allowed an ugly cyclone fence and concrete barriers to stay up and have made it clear that while the public might find a way into the campus during the day, they really are not welcome by the Democrat legislative leaders.
Continued erosion of public safety and the vilification of law enforcement. This includes wanting to legalize hard drugs that drive the mental health and homelessness epidemics in Washington, letting some career criminals who are in jail under the ‘3-strikes’ law out on the street, and taking tools away from peace officers who must handle violent and resistant suspects.

Worst Bills Moving Forward (As of cutoff – opposite house)

8402: Abdicating legislative power to review emergency gubernatorial proclamations (Liias)
5096: Implementing an income tax on capital gains – a ‘starter’ income tax (Robinson) NTIB
5126: Cap & Tax, allowing wealthy polluters to pay to continue to pollute (Carlyle) NTIB (transportation)
1091: Implementing a ‘High Cost Fuel Standard’ (HCFS) that will cripple agriculture in Washington and harm those who must drive more than others (Fitzgibbon)
5141: Implementing the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Taskforce (Saldana)
5399: Creating the Universal Health Care Commission (Randall)
5121: Expanding eligibility for the graduated reentry program (Darneille)
5051: Improper expansion of state authority over police departments.
5036: Conditional commutation by the clemency and pardons board (Dhingra)

2021 Opposite House Cutoff Totals

Senate Bills in House

Senate passed 208 bills to the House

155 D (74.5%)
53 R (25.6%)

House passed 150 Senate bills

116 D (77.3%)
34 R (22.7%)

House Bills in Senate

House passed 221 bills to the Senate

178 D (80.5%)
43 R (19.4%)

Senate passed 166 House bills

131 D (78.9%)
35 R (21.1%)

Senate Republican bills that have passed the House (opposite house cutoff):

Bill	Title	Status	Original Sponsor
2SSB 5000	Hydrogen/electric vehicles	H Passed 3rd	Hawkins
SSB 5009	Public expression protection	H Passed 3rd	Padden
SB 5016	All-terrain vehicles	H Spkr Signed	Warnick
SB 5018	Acupuncture and Eastern med.	H Spkr Signed	Rivers
ESSB 5024	Condominium construction	H Passed 3rd	Padden
SB 5027	Television closed captions	H Passed 3rd	Padden
SB 5031	Aviation revital. loan prg	H Passed 3rd	Honeyford
SB 5040	State highway litter control	H Passed 3rd	Fortunato
SB 5063	Invasive species council exp	H Passed 3rd	Honeyford
SB 5077	Mortgage loan originators	C 15 L 21	Dozier
SB 5131	County clerks/recall	H Spkr Signed	Holy
SSB 5157	Behavioral disorders/justice	H Passed 3rd	Wagoner
ESB 5158	Utility wildland fire cmte.	H Passed 3rd	Hawkins
SB 5159	WDFW payments/property tax	H Passed 3rd	Warnick
ESSB 5172	Agricultural overtime	H Passed 3rd	King
ESSB 5190	Health care workers/benefits	H Passed 3rd	Holy
SB 5198	Ambulances in rural areas	C 17 L 21	Schoesler
SSB 5230	Groundwater agreements	H Passed 3rd	Dozier
SSB 5236	Certificate of need exempt.	H Passed 3rd	Warnick
ESSB 5251	Tax and revenue laws	S Pres Signed	Schoesler
SSB 5271	Health care injury/COVID-19	S Pres Signed	Wagoner
SB 5296	WSP retirement/index def.	H Spkr Signed	Schoesler
SSB 5325	Telemedicine	H Spkr Signed	Muzzall
2SSB 5331	Early childhood court prg	H Passed 3rd	Gildon
SB 5338	Fire districts/education	C 19 L 21	Wilson, L.
SB 5345	Industrial waste program	H Passed 3rd	Brown
SB 5347	Cooperatives/member voting	H Spkr Signed	Padden
ESB 5356	Public works/bidding	H Spkr Signed	Short
SSB 5361	Drug offenses/resentencing	H Passed 3rd	McCune
2SSB 5362	Agricultural fair funding	H Passed 3rd	McCune
2SSB 5368	Rural economic development	H Passed 3rd	Short
SSB 5384	Volunteer firefighters	H Spkr Signed	Warnick
SSB 5423	Telemedicine consultations	H Passed 3rd	Rivers
ESB 5454	Prop. tax/natural disasters	H Passed 3rd	Schoesler

New three-foot distancing order for classrooms is right move for Washington’s kids, say Republican leaders

OLYMPIA…Republican legislative leaders released the following remarks in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s order that the recently revised three-foot social-distancing guideline from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) would be made available immediately to every school across the state.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, asked Gov. Inslee last week to recognize the CDC’s new recommendations and implement them here in Washington.

“We asked the governor to endorse three-foot spacing guidance for classrooms a week ago and appreciate that he has embraced another one of our recommendations. For some time, the data has shown that kids can return to school safely with this new guideline. Thousands of schools around the country have demonstrated its success. It is more practical for the classroom than the previous six-foot rule. Making this new guideline immediately available to all schools in Washington is the right thing to do and it will make a big difference in the lives of the kids who can now return to in-person instruction among their friends. Every day that goes by, kids and parents pay a higher price for not being in school. We urge the WEA to support immediate efforts to get teachers and kids back in the classroom where they belong.”

Republican leaders say endorsement of 3-foot spacing would help classrooms reopen

OLYMPIA… The state Legislature’s top Republican leaders today said a gubernatorial endorsement of 3-foot spacing for classrooms would help Washington schools comply with Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 15 emergency proclamation calling for at least a partial return to regular classroom instruction.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox noted the possibility that federal public-health officials will update guidance that currently calls for six feet between students.

“We’re hearing from school districts that the six-foot spacing of students is the largest hurdle to reopening classrooms. The director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention essentially agreed when speaking to members of Congress yesterday. She also noted how Massachusetts has seen success with three-foot spacing, when combined with proper face covering and hygiene.

“Our state’s school districts have one month from tomorrow to meet the in-person requirements handed down by the governor Monday. If the governor wants them to be successful, he shouldn’t wait to see if the CDC updates its guidance, as the director suggested may happen – he can simply endorse the three-foot spacing himself and take that issue off the board. For some districts it could mean the difference between meeting his April 19 deadline and failing.

“The children limited to remote instruction have been ready for a long time to see their teachers in person. Families need for their students to receive the best possible form of instruction. Students who have been allowed back on campus have shown they can follow established safety protocols. For many months, Republicans have trusted that schools can resume in-person instruction safely. Now that the governor has also reached that conclusion, through his emergency proclamation, let’s not allow the difference between six feet and three feet to keep students from finally walking back into classrooms.”

Senate Republican leaders: Inslee’s school-choice approach to reopening K-12 instruction solid step toward improving youth mental health

OLYMPIA… Leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus released the following remarks in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that all K-12 public schools in Washington will be required by executive order to provide safe in-person and remote learning options for students by mid-April.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia:

“There is no doubt that many thousands of children across the state have not adapted well to remote learning during the pandemic. Some are doing just fine – thriving even. But many are suffering. Republicans have highlighted this disparity for some time. Last month, I sent a letter to the governor asking him to accelerate the process of reopening all of Washington’s schools. And in recent weeks I have been pleased to see him come to support returning to the classroom despite pushback from the teachers’ union.

“Governor Inslee’s announcement today requiring choice in how schools provide instruction is the best course of action right now. I hope being given the option to do what’s best for their children will improve morale among our K-12 families. This is a solid step toward getting our kids back on track – academically and mentally. The alarming toll this pandemic has taken on youth is our newest mental-health crisis. It’s unfortunate that some are only waking up to that reality now. But others are still ignoring the youth suicide rates and other indicators of how negatively our children are being affected.

“The science has shown for a while that classroom instruction can be done safely. Wearing masks, washing hands, socially distancing at 3 feet all help make the schools a safe learning environment. The data shows this is effective in other states. The teachers’ union’s opposition to reopening our schools here in Washington is a terrible disservice to children with special needs, children from lower-income families, children of color and children in rural areas where connectivity is a problem. This is the equity issue of our time. But we can begin to change that, now that school districts will be required to provide an in-person option, and not at the expense of those whose parents want to continue remote learning.”

Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, prime sponsor of SB 5464:

“Even before the COVID-19 numbers began a nosedive and vaccinations started rolling out, there was ample empirical evidence that children can be back in classrooms and remain safe. Republicans recognized open classrooms should be the state’s default position, and that keeping kids out of classrooms was becoming a public-health crisis all its own. The point of SB 5464 was to require in-person instruction unless a particular authority said otherwise. Being in the minority in the Legislature, we couldn’t pass that bill ourselves, but we could and did offer it up as a better idea.

“The governor’s move, to prohibit schools from failing to offer an in-person instruction option, lines up with the Republican approach. If our bill showed a way forward, I’m happy. But the real winners here are the children of Washington and their families.”

Senate Republican Caucus Chair Ann Rivers, R-La Center:

“Tomorrow will mark one year since the governor ordered the statewide school closure. We may never know the full extent of the loss caused by keeping so many kids out of classrooms for so long – but I’m glad the governor has taken firm action toward ending any additional loss caused by the remote-only approach.

“As a former teacher I am confident that all of our schools can figure out how to comply with this new direction and help our K-12 system move a giant step back toward ‘normal.’ Our children have waited too long already.”

Senate Republicans encouraged Washington moving ahead in reopening

Governor’s plan for Phase 3 echoes Republican’s “Open Safe, Open Now”

OLYMPIA…Top leadership of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus offered these remarks after the governor announced today that Washington is moving forward in his phased approach to reopening the state in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase 3, which begins March 22, allows businesses statewide to open to 50 percent capacity, including restaurants and bars. Alcohol service will be extended to midnight. And professional sporting events will be able to welcome fans back to stadiums, up to 25 percent capacity.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia:

“I commend the governor for realizing it was time to move our state forward to Phase 3. Opening businesses to 50 percent capacity will put many people back to work and allow them to feed their families and pay their bills. My reaction must pale in comparison to the reaction that families across the state are having. People have gone through tremendous hardships. Maybe this will give them hope for the future.

“It’s important to continue safety protocols like wearing masks, observing social distancing and washing our hands. This fight against the pandemic isn’t over. But the science shows that we can reopen to 50 percent safely and the data shows that it’s time to get back to a higher level of normalcy. We should all be celebrating cautiously.”

Senate Republican Caucus Chair Ann Rivers, R-La Center:

“I so appreciate that the governor incorporated many details of our ‘Open Safe, Open Now’ plan for moving to Phase 3 into the plan he announced today. We hoped he was paying attention to our good ideas, even though they came from Republicans. Today’s announcement shows what can happen when all voices are heard. I do wish he had worked with us more directly since collaboration is how we are going to recover fully. But I am very encouraged.

“I’m thrilled for all the businesses and families that are going to come back from the brink of ruin. I know how much people want to return to work. Heck, I know how much people want to be at the Mariners game on opening day. I pray that infection rates and hospitalization rates continue to drop so we can all move to a full reopening as soon as possible. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do that when the governor reevaluates the metrics in three weeks.”

Braun to Inslee: Time to take the security fences down

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, sent Gov. Jay Inslee the following letter regarding the continued use of security fencing around many of the buildings on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

February 3, 2021

Governor Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Dear Governor Inslee,

Although the Governor’s Mansion is used for public functions, it is also the private
residence for you and the First Lady. It was wrong for protestors to break through a
gate in the security fence surrounding the mansion, as they did on January 6. I have
consistently spoken against protests at the homes of public officials.

Public areas are the proper forum for dissent — not the places where public officials
and their families live. This is true whether you are the mayor of Seattle or the
governor of Washington.

On the Capitol campus, the space between the Legislative Building and the Temple of
Justice has been a traditional public forum. People have gathered there for almost 100
years to engage in constitutionally protected free speech.

After the January 6 incident, you made the decision to erect a tall metal fence – a wall,
in effect – around the Legislative Building. It was your judgment that in balancing the
constitutional right of free speech near the Legislative Building and potential threats to
the security of legislative- and executive-branch staff and officials, you would err on
the side of safety.

At the time, the Secretary of the Senate was gracious enough to contact the Senate
Republican Caucus and ask if we wanted the security fencing to surround the
Newhouse Building, where most of our members have their offices.

Before making our decision, we reached out to law-enforcement authorities. None
knew of specific threats directed at the Legislative Building and the Capitol campus as
a whole, so we chose to err on the side of the public’s right of free expression. We
thanked the Secretary for making the inquiry but declined the offer.

Governor, that was the first week of January. This is the first week of February.
Respectfully, it is time to take down the fences which are separating the public from
their elected officials in the Legislature. Nearly one month after being banned, the
people should at least be allowed to return to the traditional public forum on the steps
of the Legislative Building.

If there are specific and credible security threats which would counsel against taking
the barriers down, we would appreciate being briefed by specific law-enforcement
authorities. Otherwise, we serve the people and are accountable to them. During this
session, we are making decisions impacting the lives of every Washingtonian. To the
extent possible, we are still doing so on the inside of the Legislative Building. If you
won’t let the people inside the building to serve as witnesses to our actions, we at least
should be able to hear their voices from their traditional public forum on the steps of
the building. Restricting them to rain-soaked lawns far from the ears of legislators is
not an acceptable alternative.

Governor, please take down the fences which are needlessly keeping the people away
from the Legislative Building – the People’s House – and their legislators.
Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Sen. John Braun
Republican Leader

cc: Senator Billig
Speaker Jinkins
Representative Wilcox

Let people gather in safe, regulated public places – open Washington

Senator John Braun and Senator Jeff Wilson encouraged, hopeful for governor’s announcement

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and Sen. Jeff Wilson, ranking Republican on the Senate State Government and Elections Committee, released the following remarks after reading in the media the Senate majority leader’s comments that the governor would be loosening restrictions on restaurants and other businesses.

Braun, R-Centralia, and Wilson, R-Longview, have fought to get Senate Bill 5114 passed, which would bring the entire state into Phase 2 of the governor’s reopening plan.

“While we are encouraged by the possibility that the governor will reopen more of Washington’s businesses, we need to use science to safely open businesses immediately. This will address the very real crisis our family-owned businesses are suffering. We know we can gather in safe, regulated public spaces. Infection rates in restaurants are less than one percent. It is a very distant third behind gathering in private homes and health-care settings. Other states that are fully open have far lower death rates than we do here in Washington.”

Gov. Inslee’s office announced this morning that it he is holding a news conference this afternoon to provide an update on his Roadmap to Recovery.

Majority dodges vote on bipartisan bill to safely reopen Washington

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered these remarks after the Senate majority avoided taking action today on Senate Bill 5114, which would immediately move all eight regions of the state to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest economic restart plan:

“SB 5114 is the bipartisan plan to safely reopen Washington. It received an enormous outpouring of support at a public hearing before the Senate’s state government committee a week ago. This morning the Republican leader on that committee made a motion asking for a vote. Instead of responding to the motion, the committee chair adjourned the meeting. The restaurants and other small businesses that are struggling across our state deserve something more encouraging than that.

“Republicans trust the employers of Washington to reopen safely. We’re serious about giving them that opportunity. One way or another they need to get to Phase 2 of the restart plan. This afternoon we made a motion aimed at bringing the safe-reopening bill to a full Senate vote. For the second time today, our request for a vote on SB 5114 went nowhere. The majority dodged it by rejecting the motion.

“We don’t question that the governor and the majority want to protect public health. It just makes little sense that both are so resistant to letting restaurants resume indoor service at 25-percent capacity when it’s clearly a meaningful form of pandemic relief that wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime. People want to gather. They can do so at house parties out of public view, or in the controlled environment of a restaurant or bar. Just yesterday the governor finally acknowledged there is no such thing as a zero-risk environment. We have confidence that small businesses are ready to minimize the risk to all who step inside. Republicans are not going to let up on this.”

Braun bill to reopen Washington receives staggering amount of public support

Senate Republican Leader is grateful small business workers had their voices heard

OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, issued this statement after dozens of people testified this morning before the Senate State Government and Elections Committee in support of Senate Bill 5114. It would move all regions of Washington to Phase II of Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest reopening plan and, among other things, allow restaurants to resume restricted indoor dining.

“I’m grateful that well over 1,000 people signed in as supporting this bipartisan bill, on top of those who were allowed to speak directly to the committee. That’s a staggering number, but it reflects how the hospitality industry in particular has been staggered by these economic restrictions. Thousands of restaurants and other small family businesses statewide have been lost for good – decimated by rules that are not supported by data and science and are enforced by state employees who have not had to skip a single paycheck.

“Today’s testimony spoke to the desperation people are feeling. Employers have had to repeatedly lay off people who depend on those jobs to feed their families. The businesses that are hanging on have suffered enormous losses. They can’t afford to cover the expenses continue to add up during the shutdown. We heard from one business owner who owes more than $300,000 in rent. That’s crushing. Not only have people been put out of work, but many are buried in debt they can’t ever hope to recover from. That kind of despair takes an enormous toll on mental health, which can lead to increased suicides and substance abuse.

“Indoor dining is prohibited on the assertion that restaurants are ‘super spreaders’ of the virus. The data shows the highest rate of infection comes from inside our own homes. Health-care settings come in second. The infection rate tied to restaurants is well down the list – less than 1 percent of total cases. No wonder Chicago’s Democrat mayor has called for restaurants in that city to reopen immediately. She recognizes people are at more risk gathering at home instead of gathering in a public place under strict COVID-19 guidelines. The restaurant shutdown is not reducing the spread, it’s feeding it. The data being offered does not show the correlation or causation necessary to justify crushing the livelihoods of people who are following the rules.

“Forty five out of 50 states have restaurants open, including six that are doing better at managing the spread of the virus than our state. The five states with the lowest virus rates are all open. Washington has some of the strictest safety restrictions for restaurants. We should allow them to open and trust them to follow those restrictions. We can open our economy and still reduce the infection rate. If they can do it, we can do it.

“No one wants the virus to continue to spread and overwhelm our frontline health-care workers. My wife is a nurse and I see the stress the virus is putting on her and her coworkers. But it’s clear that the presentation of the data is not telling the whole story and that the shutdown is not working. The virus continues to spread. Encouraging people to engage in safe, regulated environments is the right path forward.”