Phew! That Was Close!


Source: ShiftWA.org

Challenge Seattle, an association of 20 of Washington State’s largest businesses, sent a letter to Governor Inslee and state legislative leaders calling on Washington lawmakers to increase support for small businesses, return students to the classrooms, and prepare for distributing the COVID vaccine.  Since Governor Inslee has failed to communicate a vision for how the state can emerge from the pandemic, former Governor Christine Gregoire and 20 of the state’s largest employers have done it for him. The group includes Alaska Airlines, Microsoft, Boeing, Costco, and others. Yesterday Challenge Seattle released a six-point plan on how to develop a process for distributing the vaccine, return students to classrooms, and reinvigorate the economy – which Governor Inslee has suddenly shut down again.  In an interview, Gregoire said Governor Inslee’s promise to provide $50 million to assist struggling businesses is a nice start, but it falls considerably short of what is needed. (Challenge Seattle letter and KIRO News)

The Longview Daily News is the latest newspaper to call on Governor Inslee to convene a special session of the legislature to help employers and workers who have been devastated by his latest restrictions.  The paper states, “Without financial assistance, the restrictions are callous.” While Inslee hypocritically blames Congress for not passing another stimulus package, he fails to lead Washington State lawmakers to provide relief as well.  Governor Inslee needs to focus on things he can do and stop blaming others for his actions. As the Daily News states, it is time for Washington lawmakers to “strap on your masks and get to work. This crisis needs action at every level.” (Longview Daily News)

Governor Inslee has again extended his emergency powers. He will now determine how much a company can charge for providing a service – all without legislative consent or input. Governor Inslee’s answer to the problems created by his latest restrictions on restaurants is not to assist but to limit how much third-party companies can charge to deliver their meals. Nearly 270 days after declaring an emergency (without ever convening a special session), Governor Inslee issued his latest order limiting third party delivery companies (Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and others) to a 15% fee for their service. Of course, the governor still refuses to consider the many proposals Republicans have made to help the restaurants. (News Tribune and Q13 News of Facebook)

Governor Inslee disingenuously uses Congress as a scapegoat for his refusal to call the legislature back into a special session to provide needed relief to state employers who have again been devastated by his orders.  Despite state spending skyrocketing 20% higher for this biannual budget (2019-2021) than the previous budget, the governor made the problem worse by giving state workers (who lost no wages during the shutdown) a second pay raise in 12 months. Inslee now insists the state needs more federal money before it can assist employers who are on the verge of losing their lifetime investments and laying off their workers. (MyNorthwest and Washington Policy Center) 

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