A new effort has been launched in Olympia to rein in the governor’s emergency powers.
For more than two-and-a-half years during the pandemic, Governor Jay Inslee issued dozens of emergency proclamations with very little input from the Legislature and virtually no input from the public.
Washington is only one of four states that hands over unilateral authority to the governor to declare a state of emergency. Yakima Representative Chris Corry has introduced House Bill 1535 to change that:
“1535 isn’t even about Inslee. It’s about restoring checks and balances in our state government. You know, even though the COVID pandemic is over, and the emergency powers are gone, it’s now more important than ever to get this done so that the citizens can have confidence that their government can respond to their needs.”
Corry and Centralia Representative Peter Abbarno are proposing to limit the governor’s state of emergency to 60 days, unless extended by the Legislature. The bill would also give the Legislature more power to terminate a state of emergency.
The two Republican lawmakers say it’s time ensure the public – and the lawmakers who represent them – have a voice during emergencies.