Inslee gets some friendly fire; COVID spending nears a vote

2021 Washington Legislature, Day 22 of 105

Everett Herald political reporter Jerry Cornfield: jcornfield@heraldnet.com | @dospueblos

Want this in your inbox Monday-Wednesday-Friday? Subscribe here.

OLYMPIA, Feb. 1, 2021 — Good morning and welcome to a new week.

As state lawmakers move swiftly toward passage of a $2.2 billion COVID-relief package, Gov. Jay Inslee is dealing with pointed public denunciation of his reopening strategy from three loyal Democratic lawmakers.

Sen. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, along with Reps. Steve Tharinger of Port Townsend and Mike Chapman of Port Angeles, said in a joint statement Friday that they “have lost faith that the governor is on a course to safely open Washington and beat COVID-19.”

Today, seven counties begin the second phase of the governor’s latest reopening plan. Among them are King, Snohomish and Pierce, the state’s three most populous.

Clallam and Jefferson counties, which the three legislators represent, did not make the cut. They are in a region stuck in Phase 1 in spite of recording a combined 1,189 cases and fewer than 10 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to state records.

“He is reopening hot-spot counties based on poorly designed metrics that leave low-rate counties closed. This plan’s senseless punishment of counties with low COVID-19 rates leaves us no choice but to speak out in opposition,” they wrote. “This is not a position we take lightly. But it is clear that the governor’s plan exhibits a disastrous disconnect with the realities of our communities and, as their elected representatives, we must demand a reopening plan that is fair and sound. The current plan is neither.”

A big prize for those moving to the second stage is the resumption of indoor dining, although restaurants are still limited in the limited number of people allowed inside at a time.

And what about Phase 3? For now there isn’t one. And Inslee has been silent on when he’ll reveal what will be allowed during a third phase and the public health metrics he’ll require for any region to get there.

Relief package this week

In the meantime, that $2.2 billion COVID relief package is on a fast track to passage by the end of the week.

House Bill 1368 is set for a vote in the House today. Then on to the Senate, where the Ways and Means Committee is to hear it Tuesday and vote it out Thursday, which would enable action on the floor as early as Friday — presuming Republicans agree to the accelerated timeline.

Legislation to increase weekly benefits to jobless workers and avert a huge spike in unemployment taxes paid by businesses cleared the Legislature last week.

Senate Bill 5061, another major prong of the Legislature’s pandemic response, cleared the House late Friday on an 89-8 vote. It passed 42-7 in the Senate on Jan. 27.

As of Sunday night, it had not been sent to Inslee for signing. House and Senate leaders may want to hold on to it until the spending bill passes, giving Inslee a chance to sign those, and other COVID-related emergency bills, at the same time.

Vacancy filled

Sarah Augustine, executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas counties, will serve as the non-voting chairwoman of the 2021 Redistricting Commission. She received unanimous support at a Saturday meeting of the two Democrats and two Republicans who comprise the panel’s four voting members.

Two-week notice

The session’s first important deadline is near. Cut-off for getting legislation out of policy committees is Feb. 15. Lawmakers have until Feb. 22 to move bills out of fiscal committees in the House, and the Ways and Means and Transportation committees in the Senate.

To subscribe to the Cornfield Report, go to www.heraldnet.com/newsletters. | Previous Cornfield Reports here.

News clippings

Compiled by: House Democrats | House Republicans

On TV

Non-profit TVW covers state government in Olympia and selected events statewide. Programs are available for replay on the internet, and the channel is widely available on Washington cable systems.

TVW schedule | Current and recent video | Archives | Shows