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.”

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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

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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.

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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.