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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”