For instance, he ordered people to stay home, shut down businesses, closed schools and limited public gatherings. Inslee has used that power more than two dozen times since the start of the pandemic. During that period of time, the governor essentially has carte blanche to issue orders prohibiting certain activities. Under current law, once the governor declares an emergency it stays in effect until the governor deems it no longer necessary. That means they can be changed by the Legislature. “But they aren’t inherent powers, they’re not constitutional powers. “The governor has very strong and broad powers,” said Hugh Spitzer, a University of Washington law professor. That’s because once a state of emergency is declared, the executive branch has wide latitude to manage a crisis. I think it’s time to wind it down,” Walen said.īut legislators don’t have a say in this, at least not under current Washington law. “I think it is time to come up with a plan ongoing, but I don’t think we’re in a state of emergency anymore. “Not for this amount of time, certainly.”ĭemocratic state Representative Amy Walen, a former mayor of Kirkland who's the vice chair of the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee, agrees. “Average people of all political persuasions are coming to that conclusion that this isn’t the way they envision the state of Washington being governed,” Braun said. “I will tell you this, the one thing I do know, every time somebody gets vaccinated that day gets closer.”īy contrast, Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia thinks the governor should have already suspended the state of emergency. “And I can’t tell you when that will be, but I hope it’s sooner rather than later,” Inslee said at a recent news conference. Instead, he says that day will come when he’s confident the pandemic won’t spring back and overwhelm hospitals. Inslee won’t speculate as to when he might lift his state of emergency. And now two key questions are emerging: when will Inslee end the state of emergency and should his emergency powers be reined in? Also, 80 percent of the 12 and up population has gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and kids 5 to 11 are now also getting the shots.Įven so, as the two-year anniversary of the start of the pandemic approaches, it looks like COVID-19 is here to stay. In recent weeks, though, case counts have shown a steady drop from their delta variant-driven peak in mid-September (although public health officials are concerned about a plateauing). Since then, Washington has experienced five waves of the virus, more than 9,000 deaths and 42,000 hospitalizations, according to the state's COVID-19 dashboard. In issuing his proclamation, Inslee said the declaration would allow the state to respond “quickly and effectively” to the new virus. Jay Inslee declared the emergency on Februthe same day the state recorded its first death from the novel coronavirus. Jerry Cornfield: 36 Twitter: dospueblos.For more than 630 days, the state of Washington has been under a COVID-19 state of emergency. This booster is a bivalent vaccine, half the original vaccine and half protection against the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions now causing the majority of COVID-19 infections.
But health officials continue to urge people to get the new COVID-19 booster recently endorsed by the federal CDC. About 60% of those age 5 and older who are eligible for boosters have received one, according to the Department of Health.Ĭases and hospitalizations have declined significantly since a major omicron-fueled peak in January. Inslee had previously announced such requirements would remain an employment requirement for most state agencies.Īs of last week 72% of the Washington population age 6 months and older was fully vaccinated.
Though the state of emergency is lifted, masking requirements remain in place at health care and long-term care settings under an order issued by the state Department of Health.Īnd employers can continue to require vaccination as a condition of employment if they choose. The legislature must still act to restore the balance of powers for future use of emergency orders.” “An emergency order should never last for nearly 1,000 days unless it has received affirmative authorization for continuation by the legislative branch of government. “Our system of governance is not meant to be the arbitrary rule of one behind closed doors,” he said in a statement. Jason Mercier, director of the Center for Government Reform for the Washington Policy Center, said whether one agrees or disagrees with each of Inslee’s emergency orders “the fact remains these decisions with vast impact on individuals and businesses were made behind closed doors in the executive branch.”
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