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.

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The data used to make assessments about the current status of COVID in regions across Washington is outdated, according to a new study from the Washington Policy Center (WPC).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

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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.  

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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.