Olympia Weekly

    
Democrats introduce “state dinosaur” bill despite pressing state challenges (KING 5)

Democrats have introduced a bill to name the Suciasaurus as the official dinosaur of the state of Washington – the bill is at the request of students in Tacoma.  But why?

The bill comes despite the need for legislation to address pressing challenges.

House Minority Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R-Yelm) expressed criticism of the decision to take up time with a “state dinosaur” bill, pointing to the limitations placed on lawmakers on “what kind of legislation they would introduce.” Wilcox said, “I can think of an awful lot of bills getting hearings, including the state dinosaur and gun bills that were not part of that list.”

Lawmakers time would be better spent working on needed COVID-19 relief and restricting the governor’s executive powers during emergencies, given Democrats’ refusal to call a special session and Gov. Jay Inslee’s abuse of power during the COVID-19 pandemic.

~~~~~~~~

State government using old data numbers to determine reopening status (Washington Policy Center)

The data used to make assessments about the current status of COVID in regions across Washington is outdated, according to a new study from the Washington Policy Center (WPC).

The most recent data the state relied on to determine “Trend in Case Rate” was more than two weeks old. The data used to determine “Percent Positivity” was more than three weeks old.

The lag has severe consequences for businesses already struggling to stay alive. WPC analysis of accurate data concluded that as many as four regions in Washington State should be in Phase 2.

Following the WPC’s report, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Pacific counties could move forward to Phase 2 on Monday.
    
~~~~~~~~

Washington COVID-19 vaccine process: messy, confusing & a long headache  (My Northwest)

The process of obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine is like “climbing through bushes of thorns” to get through the light at the end of the tunnel. The state mishandled the unemployment crisis caused by COVID-19 shutdowns, the unemployed spend “hours on the phone, day after day, trying to get through to a person who can help them” with filing for unemployment and receiving aid. According to many Washingtonians, “booking a vaccine is so far looking to be a similar process.” Our state is not allowing people over 65 and those over 50 in multi-generational housing to receive the vaccine. But finding a vaccination location and scheduling an appointment appears to be a mess.

~~~~~~~~

Governor Inslee's government wasted 2,300 COVID vaccines doses  (KING 5)

Jay Inslee blamed his chaos on a lack of vaccines sent to Washington state by the Trump administration. But he has no explanation as to why “at least 2,315 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have gone to waste” in our state.  

~~~~~~~~

Science still does not support restrictive shutdowns on businesses (Washington Policy Center)

According to a recent study by the Washington Policy Center (WPC), our state’s current restrictive lockdowns are not working.

Science does not support the assumption that the majority of new infections originate from small business, restaurants and other hospitality services.

As WPC points out, national data reveals that safe environments can be achieved at 50% indoor occupancy. Further, data reveals that states with “50 percent indoor dining capacity have the lowest death rate per 100,000.”

With Washington now in the third month of a second lockdown, the consequences of basing shutdown orders on faulty assumptions are dire. Thousands of workers in the hospitality industry are now unemployed.

Senate Bill 5114 – cosponsored by Senator John Braun (R) and Senator Mark Mullet (D) – would reopen businesses across Washington state faster than Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed plan.

Contact your state senator and ask them to support the bill.

Open firearms carry may become a felony

House Bill 1283 will make it a felony to openly carry a firearm (or any weapon) in a group. 

This measure contains no exceptions for individuals who are defending themselves at home or on their own property.

Not even law enforcement, military, or those carrying firearms in an official capacity are exempted. 

HB 1283 overreaches in its intent by causing those who are lawfully carrying a concealed firearm to be entrapped by a felony charge if the firearm accidentally becomes visible. 

HB 1283 throws such a wide net that many law-abiding gun owners could potentially become felons if this measure is passed.

Comment on HB1283.  https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1283

~~~~~~~~

HR1283 is a clear violation of the Washington State Constitution -- The Declaration of Rights, article 1, Section 24, The Right to Bear Arms: "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired...." (Washington State Constitution)

It is suspicious that the legislators who composed this bill seeks to overthrow a right enumerated in our constitution without the required amendment to the constitution.  Those House legislators probably should be charged with subversion, tried and removed from the legislature.   

Those legislators are Senn, Valdez, Ramel, Bateman, Fitzgibbon, Berry, Peterson, Hackney, Thai, Kloba, Macri, Pollet, Stonier, Harris-Talley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State facing a budget challenge

by Brad Hawkins, 12th District state Senator

Balancing the state operating budget could be a challenge. As a result of past increased spending and reduced revenue, state economists are forecasting a projected budget deficit of nearly $3 billion. This deficit is much less than what was previously expected but it could grow larger if the state economy is impacted again by recent COVID restrictions.

While the current projected deficit is certainly bad news, the $3 billion figure is actually based on a four-year budget projection, impacting a four-year budget equivalent of over $100 billion. By utilizing the state’s $2 billion Budget Stabilization Account – often referred to as the “rainy day fund” – and making some measured and modest reductions in programs, I believe lawmakers can achieve a balanced budget without tax increases.

Legislators will likely agree to the use of our Budget Stabilization Account, but I predict the big fight to be over whether budget reductions – or new taxes – make up the remaining difference.

Whether Governor Inslee will be the one to sign our final budget is another issue as well. If he is indeed selected for a position in the Biden administration, then the governor’s duties will temporarily fall to newly elected Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck. This is, of course, until a new governor is elected – likely in November 2021 – in what could very well involve a battle royal of multiple officials to fulfill the remaining three years of Governor Inslee’s four-year term.

Brad Hawkins, senbradhawkins@updates.leg.wa.gov

Olympia this week

Bill to reopen businesses attracts over 1,500 supporters during hearing  (Seattle Times)

Support for Senate Billl 5114 – the bill would allow businesses to reopen faster than Jay Inslee’s plan – gained impressive support from the public. 

A total of 1,637 people signed up for a hearing on the bill on Wednesday. Of those people, only 89 registered to voice opposition to the measure. 

The bill is co-sponsored by Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah. Both senators pointed to the overwhelming participation during the SB 5114 hearing as a sign of public support. 

Indeed, with restaurants, gyms, and other closed or partially closed businesses struggling to make ends meet, the public support for reopening is high. 

Both Braun and Mullet hope the hearing’s impressive turnout puts “pressure on Democrat lawmakers to potentially break with Inslee and push for a compromise to reopen businesses faster.”

~~~~~~~~
       
Democrats push to pass higher gas tax  (770 KTTH)

Washington Democrats are pushing a new gas tax during the 2021 legislative session. If Democrats get their way, Washingtonians could end up paying up to a dollar more per gallon.

Of course, raising the gas tax would increase the cost of everything from the fueling vehicles, to heating homes and buying groceries. 

The gas tax would hit Washingtonians at a time when many are already struggling financial as a result of restrictive lockdowns. 

Democrats have pushed the plan and are heading toward passing the bill despite serious opposition and objections.

~~~~~~~~
 
Democrats move forward “not perfect” bill on unemployment crisis (My Northwest)

The Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs Committee passed the governor’s unemployment proposal that attempts to address the unemployment crisis caused by COVID-19 shutdowns. 

Senate Bill 5061 “reduces the immediate hike in unemployment taxes for businesses so that the average tax is 38% less than originally calculated, raises the weekly unemployment benefit amount for claimants, and expands unemployment coverage to those who choose not to work because they are high-risk or live with a high-risk family member.” 

However, it also has serious problems. As Senator Curtis King (R-Yakima) points out, the bill “spreads the tax hit on businesses over five years” which “only [postpones] a large burden for small businesses.”   And, undeniably, as Senator Mark Schoesler points out, the bill “rewards misconduct at Employment Security Department.”

Democrats admit the bill is “not perfect” but have proceeded to move it forward without addressing serious flaws.

~~~~~~~~
       
Failed state Employment Security Department Commissioner lands Biden administration position  (My Northwest)

The cult of sloppy government lives on.

Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine is leaving Washington state’s unemployment office and taking position in the Biden administration. 

Under LeVine’s leadership, the state unemployment office fell victim to massive fraud that led to delayed payments to unemployed Washington residents right when they needed it most – during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jay Inslee – who himself failed to secure a position in the Biden administration – praised LeVine for the leading the department “through an extremely challenging time.” 

LeVine never faced any accountability for the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money, which a state investigation found to be preventable.

~~~~~~~~
       
Lawmakers move forward on $2.2 billion COVID-19 relief bill  (The Daily Chronicle)

The state House unanimously voted for a new COVID-19 relief bill “aimed at boosting vaccine distribution and contact tracing, and aiding schools, renters and small businesses amid the pandemic.” 

Mostly funded by federal aid dollars from packages passed by Congress, the bill also uses $440 million from the state’s budget reserves. 

The bill “includes $365 million to aid renters and landlords, and $240 million for grants to help businesses impacted by the pandemic and related restrictions.” 

Another bipartisan bill currently in consideration seeks to “exempt businesses from paying state taxes on COVID-19 aid they received by the government, such as the Paycheck Protection Program or grant money distributed by Gov. Jay Inslee.”

Washington state's inflated COVID numbers influencing everyone — except its governor

Imagine finding out your 99-year old mother, who passed away from complications after a fall, was listed as a COVID death by a Health Department that had already admitted it falsely counted people who died of gunshot wounds as victims of the virus.

Now, imagine finding out this difficult information from a national news program.

That’s what happened to Christine Frye while watching Freedom Foundation’s Max Nelsen by Fox News host Laura Ingraham in December. Ingraham and Nelsen were discussing his report about how the Washington DOH is continuing to inflate the state’s COVID numbers, and one of the descriptions sounded eerily familiar to the Frye case.

Christine Frye contacted the Freedom Foundation and had a lengthy discussion with Nelsen, who confirmed it was, in fact, Frye’s mother Nelsen found on the COVID death list.

Frye agreed to tell her story on video, which you can view here.

That video got the attention of Seattle radio hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur, longtime friends of the Freedom Foundation.

Nelsen joined Frye on KVI Seattle’s “Commute with Carlson”, which you can listen to here.

Wilbur, who’s about to retire after 20 years on the air, had Frye on “The Kirby Wilbur Show” to tell her story here.

Your Freedom Foundation team hopes stories like Mrs. Frye’s will finally make Gov. Jay Inslee stop lying to justify his extreme COVID countermeasures and start leveling with Washingtonians about the situation.

reprinted from Freedom Foundation

Seattle ongoing riots - Olympia to limit citizen self-defense.

Thursday in Seattle, leftist protesters burned an American flag outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, and rioters shattered windows at the federal William Kenzo Nakamura courthouse, an AmazonGo store, and the Pike Place Starbucks.  Mr Trump may be gone, but the malevolent malcontents linger on.

Some chanted at the police, “We protect people, you protect property,” according to the Seattle Times.  You realize how fake that is when the brick sails through your window.

Law enforcement arrested three people for property damage, burglary and felony assault.  (WSJ) 

Meanwhile, in Olympia ---

Leftist legislators (read Democrats) in the Washington State Legislature responded to the ongoing criminal riots.  They want to restrict civilians' right to self-defense.  (The criminal rioters would probably feel safer to have unarmed victims.)

SB 5078 (link) would ban “high capacity” magazines are in fact standard equipment for commonly-owned firearms.  The legislature would like to add to your misery if your self-defense weapon magazine is over the legal limit.

Leftist legislators also proposed SB 5038 (link) to impair self-defense.  As drafted, the bill makes it a crime to openly carry, on the person or in a vehicle, a firearm or other “weapon” to a "demonstration".  The measure is so poorly drafted its not clear if taking a penknife (weapon?) to a home show (demonstration?) would be banned.

~~~~~~~~

On Monday, January 25, a committee will consider Senate Bill 5078.  Please use this link https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5078 to comment on SB5078.

On Tuesday, January 26, Senate Bill 5038 will be considered by the Senate Law and Justice Committee.  Use this link https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5038 to comment on SB5038.

~~~~~~~~

Washington State Constitution Article 1, Section 24   RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.   "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired...."

We have the right to defend ourselves.  Can the leftist elites read?

Washington state legislature plans to chage law to disregard the voter

SENATE BILL 5182 -- Intent: Eliminate advisory balloting from elections, thus silencing the People.  The legislators don't want to balance the budget.  But they want to spend your money without asking you about it.  You have to imagine this is connected to the greedy legislature's desire to enact an income tax.

The easiest way to enact unlimited taxes is to silence the people's voice.

From the text of the proposed law:
"The  legislature  finds  that  transparency and fiscal  responsibility  are  important  principles  for  state government,  including  election  administration.  The  legislature  finds

• that  advisory  votes  are  nonbinding  after-the-fact  polls  that  do  not aid  transparency
• are  costly  to  taxpayers *
• cause  confusion  and
• frustration among voters, and provide little, if any, useful feedback for  the  legislature

The  legislature  finds  that  there  are  more effective  ways  for  the  public  to  participate  in  the  legislative process, and to be educated about the decisions the legislature makes without  contributing  to  long  ballots,  which  can  lead  to  choice fatigue  and  voters  abstaining  from  down-ballot  races  that  determine who shall serve in the government closest the people.

~~~~~~~~

So the legislature say why bother with the People?

• The people can't make the legislature obey
• It costs pennies to  advise the People *
  
• The People are stupid and easily confused
• The People are frustrated the legislature wastefully and the legislature doesn't like being told that.

There will be more proposed laws like SB5182, so email your legislators -- tell them your voice cannot be silenced.

Find your district https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

 ~~~~~~~~

* "In a budget of $17 billion a year, $130,000 is a mosquito's sneeze.  It works out to 3 cents for each citizen who voted and it reaches every voter in the state … To argue that eliminating this expenditure is about protecting taxpayers is baldly disingenuous,"  Bruce Ramsey, Seattle Times, wrote.

Olympia weekly

State lawmakers readjust 2021 priorities given unexpected 2020 revenue stream   (The Lens)

It begins.  State lawmakers introduced almost 300 bills on January 11th, the first day of session.

Due to the state revenues increasing unexpectedly in late 2020, talk of a need to address a budget deficit has now changed to majority Democrats pleading for more taxes despite 10% revenue growth. 

The discussion has “shifted to the host of proposed taxes and how that squares with the need for financial relief for struggling businesses, along with exactly how much lawmakers will be able to accomplish with the session conducted remotely.” 

Speaking at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Legislative Kickoff, Senate Republican Leader John Braun said, “We’re in a very fortunate position; our budget is largely balanced – it is balanced over the next four years.” He went on to add that the state economic outlook is “still uncertain and, I think, fragile.” 

Indeed, while Washington state's government budget may look healthy, lawmakers must address the effects of Jay Inslee’s punishing restrictions that have “disproportionately affected numerous industries such as hospitality and retail.”

~~~~~~~~
        
Bi-partisan Senate bill looks to reopen businesses faster  (Washington Policy)

Republican Senate Minority Leader John Braun and Senate Democrat Senator Mark Mullet authored a bill – Senate Bill 5144 – to re-open businesses across Washington faster than Jay Inslee’s current “Healthy Washington-Roadmap” plan. 

The bill would remove burdensome lockdown restrictions and return the responsibility for employee and customer safety to businesses. 

If lawmakers approve the bill, businesses would be able to operate if they take proper safety precautions. The bill was introduced on the first day of session. It is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State Government & Elections Committee at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20.  

You can sign up to testify now until 7 a.m. on 1/20 by clicking here.  CSI Remote Testimony

~~~~~~~~
        
Inslee calls for “more equitable” state in annual State of the State speech   (Times Union)

Jay Inslee released a pre-recorded State of the State speech on January 13. Inslee stated, “We are not going back to normal. We are going forward towards a new normal.” 

According to Inslee, by the end of the 2021 legislative session, Washington will be a “more equitable” state with “more opportunities, and careers, and affordable housing.” 

Notably, when he first introduced his budget, Inslee referred to his major tax-and-spend, $57.6 billion budget as a means to produce “equity.” However, Inslee did not mention his new capital gains income tax plan or his proposal to tax health insurers during his speech – policies sure to stunt economic recovery following COVID-19 closures.

Inslee did – however – speak on the need for police reform, given the “police-citizen violence we saw in 2020 alone has traumatized the nation.” Inslee failed to mention the dire consequences on public safety that resulted from his party’s fringe push to defund the police in Seattle.

~~~~~~~~
        
State lawmakers push for COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers (Brad Hawkins)

A bipartisan group of lawmakers – including Republican Senator Brad Hawkins, Ranking Member of the House Education Committee – are urging Jay Inslee to revise his recent guidance on COVID-19 vaccination.

Specifically, the lawmakers want to ensure that “all school employees who wish to get a vaccination can receive one in February as part of Phase 1B2.” Inslee’s current plan makes school employees “50 years or older” eligible to receive their vaccines in early February. School employees “under 50 years” of age must wait until at least April. Of course, the delay has implications for school reopening plans.

With students falling behind on their education and working families struggling to carry the heavy burden of at-home learning, it is imperative that schools reopen as soon as possible.

Sign up to stop new taxes - its easy to do

We can stop new taxes If we let them know we are aware of their plans.  Bright light frightens politicians.

Inslee promised he is willing to sign more new taxes into law --  this is really stupid given that our state economy is staggering under the COVID pandemic -- if he and his cronies can do it in a dark corner. 

Fortunately, we  have Initiative 960 — that’s been protecting taxpayers since voters passed it in 2007. It forces the state budget office to track tax-raising bills, calculate their costs, and alert the public by email about their introduction, hearings, and legislative votes.  And the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of legislators sponsoring and voting for those tax-bills are listed on each email notice.

To make Initiative 960 work for us, sign up to get notice of tax proposals at Govdelivery  https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/subscriber/new and set up your account -- its no charge to you.

Just take the email notifications, even if you don't have time to read them all.  Money eating politicians are like cockroaches -- they fear the bright light of Initiative 960.  It makes them reluctant to impose more bad taxes.

Of course it works even better if you tell the politicians about how you feel about being taxed to death.

~~~~~~~~

Testimonial to Initiative  960's effectiveness.

“It is getting in the way of open consideration of ideas,” said Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, who sponsored a bill that would tax greenhouse gas emissions (the bill would cost entities that extract or import things such as coal, petroleum and natural gas more than $26 billion over 10 years)."

“It is getting in the way of taking care of the business of our state.  You would not believe the vitriol that has come in on my telephone today,” said Chase, who added lawmakers will be reluctant to have their names associated with any bill that would trigger I-960 notification.

Income tax proposal - WA legislature tries it again.

Washington State does not have an income tax, but that has not stopped our greedy legislature from trying to enact an income tax for years. They are back to take our livelihood again.

SB 5096 -  Proposes an excise tax on gains from the sale or exchange of certain capital assets.  (An excise tax on income is a mealy mouthed way of saying "income tax.")

SB 5096 implements a 9% Capital Gains tax including a residential dwelling with more than four units. This includes commercial office buildings, manufactured housing, condominiums, self-storage, retail, and floating homes.

The tax applies to individuals earning over $25,000, and couples earning over $50,000 annually.

This would be a new state tax, in addition to the federal capital gains tax.

Email your legislators and tell them no new taxes.  We are still trying to recover from the economic catastrophe of COVID.  Stay out of our pockets.

~~~~~~~~

Click this link:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate

For Committee choose Ways and Means

For Meetings choose 1/14/21 4:00 pm

On the next page select SB 5096 Capital Gains Tax

Click I would like my position noted for the legislative record

On the next screen, choose your position (CON) for OPPOSE

Fill in the rest of the information requested. 

Once you Submit, you will get this message:

Thank you for your submission. Your information will be included in the legislative record for bill and meeting archival purposes.

Olympia This Week

Senator Braun responds to violence in Washington D.C.  (WA Senate Republican Committee)

Washington State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released a statement regarding protests in Washington D.C.

“What we are seeing at our nation’s Capitol today is unacceptable. I condemned the violent protests here in our state and around the country this summer and I condemn today’s actions just as strongly. Attacking the U.S. Capitol is no more justifiable than attacking our state capitol, or a police precinct, or private property that happens to be in a certain part of a city. No matter the reasoning behind it, violence is not the answer. One of the bedrocks of our democracy – something that has distinguished our nation from many others for centuries – is the peaceful transfer of power from one elected official to another.

"I understand that some question the legitimacy of the recent election. The U.S. Constitution guarantees them the right to have their voices heard through peaceful assembly. They even have the right to challenge the election process in a court of law. But nothing grants anyone the right to storm the Capitol building and terrify those inside. I sincerely hope those protesting at the Washington State Capitol who share a cause with those protesting in D.C. today recognize the volatility of the situation and the need to maintain public safety, respect the role of the Capitol campus security officers and conduct themselves peacefully. Violence is not the path forward.”

~~~~~~~~
       
WA leaders woefully unprepared to administer COVID-19 vaccine (Washington Policy Center)

In a stunning example of government ineffectiveness, Washington state leadership has woefully failed to deliver vaccines to the public.

Unfortunately, it’s Washington families who pay the price for the spectacular failures.

Jay Inslee went from publicly complaining that Washington would not be receiving as many vaccine doses as expect to struggling to administer the state’s allotted doses.

On January 3, a mere 29% of the available doses were handed out. To compare, during the same period, South Dakota delivered 70 percent of the available doses in that state.

Washington ranks 37th in the nation for the percentage of vaccine doses administered.

Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center points out that the latest failure comes as no surprise as, in fact, state leaders’ failure “to take effective steps to fight the spread of the coronavirus fits a year-long pattern.”

From testing to contact tracing to vaccine administration, Inslee’s failure to lead effectively has had serious implications for Washingtonians. 

~~~~~~~~
       
Small businesses describe Inslee’s reopening plan as “disheartening” (KOMO News)

Jay Inslee’s latest reopening plan sections Washington into eight regions based on health care resources. His reopening plan also consists of two phases, with each region starting in Phase 1.

Indoor gyms and entertainment will see some relaxed restrictions until Phase 1. Gyms are only allowed to one customer per 500 square feet – they may operate at 25% capacity when they reach Phase 2.

But Inslee will only allow indoor dining to resume when a region enters Phase 2 – at which point restaurants can only operate at 25% capacity.

Getting to Phase 2 requires a 10% decrease in case rates and COVID-19 hospital admission rates, an ICU occupancy rate less than 90%, and test positivity rates of less than 10%.

Regions must maintain the results to stay in Phase 2.

One restaurant owner told KOMO News that Inslee’s reopening plan is “disheartening” and that it “just doesn’t seem right why restaurants are being punished or closed when we’re doing everything possible to reopen up.”

~~~~~~~~
       
State lawmakers brace for “unprecedented” 2021 legislative session (KOHO Morning Show)

Republican Washington State Senator Brad Hawkins (12th LD) joined the KOHO Morning Show to discuss what is bound to be an “unprecedented” legislative session in 2021.

Hawkins discusses how legislators hope to engage with the public – especially with public testimony and ensuring a voice for Eastern Washingtonians – given a mostly remote legislative session.

Hawkins also covers frequently asked questions like expectations to changes in the state budget – something he does not expect to see major changes in terms of spending cuts.

Hawkins does warn of the likelihood of tax increases (Sucking away funds is exactly what the battered state economy does not need). Washingtonians will likely see a push for a state capital gains income tax by Democrats.

Finally, Hawkins covers what Washingtonians can expect in terms of schools reopening.
 

Olympia this week

New minimum wage hikes implemented on January 1, 2021 (Washington State Wire)

Washington’s minimum wage increased by 19 cents on January 1st, bringing the new total to $13.69. The hike also translates to an increase in Seattle’s minimum wage to $16.69 an hour and SeaTac’s to $16.57.

Salary thresholds for exempt employees also changed in 2021. That means salaried executive, administrative and professional workers, and computer professionals must perform specific duties and earn a salary above a specified amount to remain overtime exempt.

Employees of small businesses (50 or fewer employees) must earn “a salary of at least 1.5 times the minimum wage, or $821.40 a week ($42,712.80/year).”

Employees of large businesses (51 or more employees) “must earn a salary of at least 1.75 times the minimum wage, or $958.30 a week ($49,831.60/year).”

~~~~~~~~
        
Inslee extends shutdowns – again  (Washington State Wire)

Jay Inslee announced an extension of his latest shutdowns by one-week. His restrictions will remain in place with no changes. That includes bans on indoor dining and gatherings.

Fitness facilities and gyms must remain closed for indoor operations. Retail stores must limit occupancy to 25%, and “any common or congregate non-food related seating areas must be closed.”

The ban was initially set to expire on December 14. On December 8, Inslee extended the ban to January 4. His latest order pushes the expiration out to January 11.

Washington’s businesses are undeniably suffering – a survey released last month found _more than 2000 restaurants closed for good_ across the state since March 2020.

Is this suppose to be fun?

~~~~~~~~
        
Inslee extends ban on evictions to March 31st (KHQ-Q6)

Jay Inslee announced an extension on the statewide eviction moratorium set to expire on December 31. The extension includes “adjustments to provide additional support for landlords and property owners.”

Particularly, the adjustments extend state rental assistance to include newly approved federal funding for assistance programs.

Goals for the rental assistance programs have “also been modified for landlords, property owners, and property managers to apply for rental assistance.”

~~~~~~~~

COVID Vaccines arriving in Washington state are not being administered (MSN)

Probably the most damming critique of Inslee's governorship is his failure to see to the administration  the 174,000 doses the state Department of Health has already received. (Washington State Department of Heath).

~~~~~~~~

Inslee’s transportation plan “out-of-touch” (Washington Policy Center)

Governor wants to delay critical projects, while funding electric ferries and high-speed rail

Jay Inslee’s new funding proposal includes “$400 million per biennium to support preserving our state roads, railways, ferries and bridges.”

As the Washington Policy Center puts it, state officials are “spending more money to sustain underutilized modes of transport like transit and rail, or funding luxury “green” electrification projects.”

That’s the opposite of what they should be doing – which is prioritizing “making our roads and bridges more resilient and reliable for people who increasingly depend on private automobiles for travel.”

Responding to the list of green transportation projects Inslee would like to fund, State Representative Andrew Barkis, ranking GOP member on the House Transportation Committee, called the plan “out-of-touch with what the people of Washington state can financially afford right now.”

Report - Rally against Governor Inslee lockdowns

Demonstration  at Lewis County Courthouse on December 29th - over 600 people rallied to support local businesses and rallied against Inslee's endless lockdown world - whatever happened to two weeks?  (We the Governed)

We are imprisoned, though we have committed no crime... We have not even been accused of a crime.  And the mighty Inslee pooh-pooh our ability and  good sense to keep ourselves healthy.  

People can handle these things, if they are left alone.  We're smart enough..  Government can only make us suspicious of each other and act stupid.  Mr Inslee, release us now.

Gov. Inslee announces one-week extension of statewide restrictions

Another week extension of COVID restrictions.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a one-week extension of the "Stay Safe–Stay Healthy" proclamation, along with the statewide restrictions imposed. The extension of the statewide restrictions will now expire on Jan. 11, 2021. No changes were made in the proclamation aside from the expiration date.

An updated reopening plan is currently being developed to provide a pathway for businesses and workers impacted by this order to reopen safely. The updated plan will be released next week.

Read the full proclamation (Governor's office).

~~~~~~~~

Governor Inslee also order a stay in the implementation of the plastic bag ban (Governor's office) that was to go into effect on January 1, 22021 (today) -- these are Inslee's reasons:

The governor is delaying the new law's implementation due to supply issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which are affecting their ability to procure the alternative bags, including:

1. Increased demand for paper and thicker plastic bags, due to increased demand for takeout and groceries;
2. Retailers asking customers not to bring bags from home, to protect workers; and
3. Thicker plastic bag manufacturers transitioning their facilities to manufacture hospital gowns and other PPE.

Item 2 in the list shows that Inslee recognizes that bags brought from home can bring disease.  The plastic bag ban forces people who are buying food to be exposed to disease somebody else brought into the store via their dirty bags.

"Our top priority is keeping Washingtonians healthy during this pandemic."  The state Department of Ecology makes it clear that multi-use bags are a hazard to public health.

~~~~~~~~ 

Who wants waste bags in the environment?  The state's answer has been heavy handed enough to cause a potential health problem.  Why bludgeon the public when what we need is simply to pick up bags and other waste from the environment?  Picking up plastic trash to put in the recycling stream (with some put in landfills) will be environmentally less costly.

Let's get the bag ban repealed. The present law is a danger to those who live in the environment. Let's have the legislature and Mr Inslee think out better, more environmentally responsible, law.