by Sue | Jan 23, 2021 | 2021 Olympia Bills to Watch, Olympia News & Views 2021
Washington State Representative Vicki Kraft (R – 17th LD) is one of the great Republicans in Olympia who is fighting for the people’s best interest, and not special interests. Following is an excerpt about what she’s working on in Olympia.
- Governor’s emergency powers: When the Legislature created the governor’s emergency powers many years ago, lawmakers never intended to give the governor extended one-man rule for nearly a year or longer. For nearly 10 months, the governor has dictated through emergency proclamations, how our state is run, picking winners and losers along the way. I will be introducing reform legislation that reins in the governor’s emergency power. My bill will remove the imbalance that has occurred these past months between the executive and legislative branches by requiring two-thirds of the Legislature to approve any continuation of a state of emergency. I will also continue to work to safely reopen our state now for our citizens, small businesses and property owners impacted by the shutdown, so we can promote the overall health of all Washingtonians.
- The K-12 Education Scholarship Program – On Friday, I reintroduced my school choice measure, House Bill 1215, that would give parents the ability to choose the learning environment that best meets their children’s needs. The K-12 Education Scholarship Program would provide $7,000 per student to be used for costs related to private school or homeschool instruction. I believe parents should be able to decide how and where their children are educated — not government. The measure has been referred to the House Education Committee. Read my opinion-editorial on this issue.
- Right to refuse vaccinations – I believe individuals should have the right to decide whether or not to be vaccinated, regardless of whether it is a vaccine against the coronavirus or any other vaccine on the market. No one should be required to be vaccinated, and no one should be denied services, employment or access to public places if they choose not to be vaccinated. This week, I introduced House Bill 1305, which would allow individuals the right to refuse any vaccination or related health measure, so they maintain control of what goes into their own bodies. The measure has been referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.
Bad bills already moving forward
It didn’t take long for majority Democrats to roll out a series of bad bills to increase the governor’s emergency powers, raise taxes and expand abortion coverage. Since much of this session is being conducted online and not as open to the public as before, it’s really important that every citizen become involved in their Legislature this year, so we can stop bad bills from becoming law. Feel free to contact my office if you’d like to be added to my email update concerning bills coming through the House so you can sign up and testify on those measures.
Here’s a list for this week:
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 8402 – Democrats in both the Senate and House swiftly passed this bad measure — so quickly, the public was mostly unaware. It indefinitely extends the governor’s authority to operate under certain emergency proclamations he has issued in response to COVID. This means until the state of emergency is revoked or if legislative action occurs, the governor simply continues to have the power to keep those proclamations in place indefinitely. Republicans argued against the measure, but it passed the House on Friday with a vote of 54-44. The Senate passed it last Wednesday.
- Senate Bill 5096 would enact a 9% income tax on capital gains as small as $25,000. Imagine this scenario: A restaurant owner is forced out of business due to the governor’s extended shutdown orders. If this bill passes, that owner would face a new income tax when trying to sell the property. In other words, government would make money forcing such closures — very shameful! A public hearing was held on this bill last Thursday in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
- House Bill 1091 would authorize the state Department of Ecology to create a clean fuels program, which could increase the cost of gasoline by 57 cents per gallon and diesel by 63 cents per gallon. This would increase costs to the consumer, hurt our economy, and add to the cost of housing. A public hearing was held last Wednesday in the House Environment and Energy Committee. It is scheduled for a committee vote this Thursday, Jan. 21.
Our focus this session should be on getting people back to work, reopening businesses, and getting kids back in school. Above all, as people and businesses are suffering from the COVID shutdown, the Legislature should NOT add to their burdens with higher taxes and more government regulations. There is no need for tax increases. I encourage you to get involved in the remote testimony process and help us fight these bad bills!
All House floor action and committee meetings will be conducted this session via Zoom. They can also be viewed on TVW. Although the Capitol grounds will be closed to the public, there are still ways for you to be involved and influence the legislative process. Here is a good guide to help you participate: Accessing the Legislature Remotely. Please note that you can sign up in advance to remotely testify on a bill during committee meetings. You may also submit written comments. Here are some other helpful links:
NOTE: You can also use www.washingtonvotes.org, which offers much information about the legislators, the bills that are moving forward, and a direct link to read more on the legislative website as well as comment on them.
by Sue | Jan 18, 2021 | 2021 Olympia Bills to Watch, Alerts about pending WA State Legislation
from WashingtonVotes.org
Governor Inslee sworn in for third consecutive term, vows a “new normal” for the people of the state – Senate Democrats pass measure to extend his emergency orders indefinitely
Governor Inslee took the oath of office for his third consecutive four-year term on Wednesday in the Capitol building, along with other state elected officials, wearing masks and physically distanced. Others, like Attorney General Ferguson who is also entering his third four-year term, were sworn in online. Governor Inslee is the first Washington governor to be elected for a third term since Republican Dan Evans in the 1970s.
Rather than delivering his inaugural address before the traditional assembly of lawmakers, state elected officials, and state supreme court justices, Governor Inslee presented his remarks in a pre-recorded 20-minute video posted online.
The governor’s speech touched on economic recovery, education, homelessness and the need to overhaul the state’s mental health system. He also declared his continued commitment to fighting climate change. ”We cannot let the short-term crisis of COVID-19 blind us to the long-term health cataclysm that is climate change,“ he said.
Governor Inslee also emphasized that Washingtonians should not expect their lives to return to normal after the COVID-19 epidemic is under control. “We are not going back to normal. We are going forward toward a new normal. We are on a path in this legislative session to a more just normal, a healthier normal. And we’re not just talking about the pandemic.”
State lawmakers continue to introduce new bills this week at a brisk pace—nearly 500 so far, as Washington’s 105-day regular session gets underway in a mostly online format. Legislative actions, including floor debates, committee hearings, and public testimony are conducted remotely, using online tools in keeping with the restrictions on gatherings imposed by Governor Inslee’s emergency orders.
These restrictions are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, as Senate Democrats on Wednesday pushed through a measure that would extend all of the governor’s emergency proclamations indefinitely.
Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 8402 would continue the restrictions ordered by Governor Inslee until the governor declares an end to the state of emergency or the legislature repeals his orders. (Reps. Chapman, Tharinger, and Sen. Van deWege voted for this.)
The measure passed along straight party lines by 28-19 votes, with all Democrats voting “yes” and all Republicans voting “no.” Two senators were excused. The House, which is controlled by Democrats with a 57-41 majority, is expected to vote on the resolution later today, Friday.
During the debate on the measure—carried out remotely via online tools, Republicans brought up their concerns about extending the governor’s emergency orders indefinitely. Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake), who voted against the resolution, said in an interview with The Everett Herald that lawmakers came to Olympia to help the governor “work our way as a state, through the situation that we’re in with this pandemic. He’s been doing it all on his own.”
Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) also voted against the resolution. “We came to Olympia to be able to do the right thing,” he said. “Instead, the majority gives the governor continued dictatorial powers.”
A Republican proposal to extend the proclamations only until January 27th failed, along with an amendment to move each region in the state to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery plan by January 18 before extending any proclamations.
WashingtonVotes.org is a free service provided by Washington Policy Center and is the go-to tracking tool to keep up with all the action in Olympia, especially during this mostly virtual session. Please check in often and follow us on Facebook and Twitter at #waleg.
(Reprinted from Washington Votes.org with permission)
by Sue | Jan 18, 2021 | Republican Party News
On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, the State Committee of the Washington State Republican Party (WSRP), representing the 39 county Republican Parties across Washington state, voted to pass a resolution to condemn the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.
Following is the Resolution as passed:
Resolution to Condemn the Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump
Whereas, we are the Party of Law and Order and are opposed to criminal violence and destruction of any kind, including the violence at the Capitol on January 6th and the violence of BLM and left-wing rioters in nearly every major city throughout the summer; and
Whereas, we support law enforcement and the prosecution of all violent crime to the fullest extent of the law; and
Whereas, the multiple serious concerns of millions of Americans regarding the 2020 election were ignored by both the offending states and Congress, creating an atmosphere of anger and distrust; and (more…)
by Sue | Jan 11, 2021 | Olympia News & Views 2021
by Ruth Peterson
Legislative Session 2021 – This is going to be a strange year. Many of us who work at the legislature are being asked to work from home. The buildings have been closed to the public. There will be little face to face access to your elected Representatives. These are all things that should concern every single Washington State citizen. It is wrong to not allow the public to access the place where laws are passed that affect them every single day. It’s especially dangerous this year, because the Democrats have a majority, and they are likely feeling pretty fearless, since they were able to be elected so easily. (more…)
by Sue | Jan 7, 2021 | Alerts, Education
Are you frustrated at the education system and are looking for alternatives for your children or grandchildren? Many parents have already removed their children and teenagers from the public school system and have found other methods of teaching them – from homeschooling to private schools. It’s one reason the Republican Party is such an advocate for school choice, where the money follows the child – to get the best education for each individual child!
Hillsdale College is a unique in that it takes no funding from the government, and is one – if not THE – best in the country. If you have a student preparing to attend college, be sure to check them out!
Hillsdale College has been in the forefront in helping to educate children and teens – in fact, people of all ages – about our nation’s history and government with their FREE online courses. It’s well-known for its Constitution 101 course (FREE), and many other courses it offers, free of charge. The monthly newsletter, Imprimis, is also offered free to the recipient, funded by donors from across the country.
Now, Hillsdale is offering a new course, “The Great American Story: A Land of Hope Study Group” – and again, it’s a FREE course of study.
Here’s the description on their website:
Special Six-Week Session of “The Great American Story”
(more…)
