Soda pop tax surfaces as school reopening battle rages on

Here’s what’s happening on Day 43 of the 2021 session of the Washington Legislature.

NO CAPTION NECESSARY: Logo for the Cornfield Report by Jerry Cornfield. 20200112

2021 Washington Legislature, Day 43 of 105

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

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

OLYMPIA, Feb. 22, 2021 — Good Monday morning.

Today is the deadline to get policy bills with a price tag out of fiscal committees — budget and transportation, primarily — or they are done for the session.

For the rest of the week, it’s long days of virtual floor sessions in the House and Senate as lawmakers start passing their bills to the other chamber.

Meanwhile, is this going to be the week Gov. Jay Inslee finally reveals what Phase 3 of his reopening plan looks like and explains how counties can get there? As vaccinations rise and the infection rate falls, the timing seems ripe for an update.

Count on Inslee this week to keep pressing, practically demanding, public schools reopen. He’s been all but guaranteeing teachers and students will be fine as long as everyone follows safety protocols penned by his administration.

He may be right. Science and data collected thus far back his assertion, as my colleague Joseph Thompson reported recently. And the latest OSPI report shows about a third of Washington elementary students are in a classroom on any given day.

Parents and teachers wary of in-person learning are wondering what if he’s wrong.

“The fear of this is understandable. But it is not backed up by experience,” Inslee said at a Jan. 26 news conference. “Our experience shows we can operate a school safely. There’s no zero risk. Any time you step out of your living room there’s some risk.”

Not so fast

Inslee and lawmakers continue to negotiate a multi-part deal to bring agreement on a cap-and-invest program, clean fuel standard, multi-year transportation package and funding source for culverts.

Details of one component, a proposed bond measure to cover the roughly $3 billion tab for removing culverts with a bond, could emerge this week.

Inslee embraced the approach at a Friday news conference. “We found this is the most tenable path to move forward to get these jobs done,” he said.

But David Schumacher, the governor’s budget director, chimed up quickly with a clarification that seemingly contradicted his boss. There’s apprehension with putting the bond to a statewide vote, he said.

“This is still a legislative conversation that we haven’t bought off yet,” he said. “We’re very uncomfortable with the idea of, you know, holding hostage the culverts to a ballot measure. I think we’re going to have to see a lot more detail before we’re going to be okay with it.”

Meanwhile, the bill creating a cap-and-invest program is slated for a vote in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Thursday. There’s a new version of Senate Bill 5126. You can find more here.

Soda pop tax arrives

If you hurry, you can catch the 8 a.m. hearing on a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee.

Seattle has had such a tax since January 2018. It is 1.75 cents per fluid ounce and is charged to distributors of sugary drinks who in turn can pass it on to stores. Senate Bill 5371 would apply the same rate on “sweetened beverages” statewide starting Oct. 1. It would generate an estimated $359.3 million in the next biennium with 60% going to public health.

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

 

Links

Contact your legislator | District lookup | Bill lookup

Legislature home | House | Senate

Caucuses: House Democrats | House Republicans | Senate Democrats | Senate Republicans

Office of the Governor

Laws and agency rules

Beat reporters: Jerry Cornfield (Herald) | Rachel La Corte (AP) | Joseph O’Sullivan (Times) | Jim Brunner (Times) | Austin Jenkins (NW News Network) | Melissa Santos (Crosscut) | Sara Gentzler (McClatchy) | Jim Camden (Spokesman-Review)

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers walk in and out of Fred Meyer along Evergreen Way on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council rebukes Kroger for plans to close Fred Meyer store

In the resolution approved by 6-1 vote, the Everett City Council referred to store closure as “corporate neglect.”

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Arlington in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
A divided Arlington City Council votes to reduce SkyFest grant by half

After months of debate over lodging tax funds, the council voted 4-3 to award the popular aviation event $20,000.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Stanwood jail costs expected to exceed budget by end of 2025

As of September, the Stanwood police has spent $53,078 of its $59,482 annual jail budget.

Alex Waggoner is handcuffed after being sentenced to 19 years for the murder of Abdulkadir Shariif Gedi on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds man sentenced to more than 19 years for death of rideshare driver

Judge Richard Okrent sentenced Alex Waggoner, 23, Wednesday after a jury earlier found him guilty of murder in the 2nd degree.

Snohomish County Sheriff's Office K-9 vehicle along U.S. 2 where a man was shot on Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025, in Sultan, Washington. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)
Suspect arrested in King County after person shot near Sultan along US 2

The assault investigation closed down east and westbound lanes of U.S. 2 Wednesday afternoon.

Traffic moves around parts of the roundabout at the new I-5/SR529 interchange on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WSDOT delays opening of Marysville interchange, ramps

Supply chain issues caused the agency to push back opening date. The full interchange and off ramps are expected to open in October.

Stanwood pauses Flock cameras amid public records lawsuits

A public records request for Flock camera footage has raised questions about what data is exempt under state law.

Two troopers place a photo of slain Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Gadd outside district headquarters about 12 hours after Gadd was struck and killed in a crash on southbound I-5 on March 2 in Marysville. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
One More Stop targets drunk driving this weekend in honor of fallen trooper

Troopers across multiple states will be patrolling from 4 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Former barista claims Starbucks violated Everett law

The part-time worker wanted more hours, but other workers were hired instead, the lawsuit alleges.

New chief medical officer joins Providence Swedish North Puget Sound

Dr. Sanjiv Tewari will oversee more than 1,500 physicians and clincians in Everett, Edmonds and Mill Creek.

Hangar 420 is pictured on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington, less than half a mile away from the Lynnwood border. On Monday, the Lynnwood voted to lift its 10-year ban on retail cannabis. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lynnwood nips city cannabis ban in the bud

The City Council lifted the city’s 10-year retail cannabis ban Monday, allowing up to four stores near Highway 99 and Alderwood Mall.

Ballot envelopes sit in the Thurston County elections center. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)
Washington denies DOJ request for voter rolls

Washington’s secretary of state on Tuesday denied the Trump administration’s request for… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.