Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center reports Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has given no indication he plans to end his 759 days of governing by emergency proclamation anytime soon
Jason Mercier
Washington Policy Center
No fooling, Oregon Governor Kate Brown is rescinding her state’s COVID state of emergency on April 1 along with the requirement for state government employees to be vaccinated in order to be employed. Governor Inslee, however, has given no indication he plans to end his 759 days and continuing of governing by emergency proclamation anytime soon. From Governor Brown’s executive order ending Oregon’s COVID state of emergency:
“But thanks to our collaboration with the Legislative Assembly and state agencies, the emergency declaration itself is no longer necessary to our ongoing COVID-19 response . . .
I am confident that we can navigate those challenges, together, relying on the normal governmental process set forth in our laws.
As this pandemic and other disasters like catastrophic wildfires have taught us, a sudden crisis can require the Governor to invoke extraordinary emergency authorities, in order to respond immediately and to keep people safe. But those powers must be used carefully and sparingly, and only when absolutely necessary, as they temporarily alter the normal balance of power. Emergency powers cannot – and should not – go on forever. Instead, response efforts should be transitioned to normal government processes and authorities, as soon as possible, to ensure that essential checks and balances remain in place . . .
Because of these efforts, Oregon now is in a position in which it can meet the challenges of COVID-19, using normal legislative and agency authorities and processes. For that reason, it is time to end the COVID-19 state of emergency.”
Amen, amen, amen, and amen.
Jason Mercier is the director of the Center for Government Reform at the Washington Policy Center.
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Well, Oregon is better positioned, as they are having about 1/3 as many per-capita infections.
But I agree, it’s time to end.
Besides not rescinding his emergency declaration, what is he impacting now? Masks are gone, business restrictions are gone. What else is there? (I googled but didn’t easily find an answer, but I bet someone here knows).
What else is there?
The ability to arbitrarily reimpose restrictions. It is that simple. He has authority under a state of emergency that he otherwise would not have, and is in no hurry to give it up. I have a growing suspicion he isn’t done exercising his newfound powers just yet.
I see.
I don’t what what informs him, but the scientific community was concerned that BA.2 might cause another serious spike here as it did in the UK. We tended to trail them by about 3 weeks, and we’ve just gotten beyond that point. So, maybe his “all clear” signal is just a bit later than some others.
I suspect he’ll give it up soon, but I’ll be watching to see if folks like you were right.
The fact that, at this point in time, King Insleez is not terminating his ’emergency authority’ is in itself quite worrisome. There is no emergency now.
He needs to be a stand-up guy and say “it’s over to the point that the State Legislature can now assume its role in legislating State affairs.” But, oh no, this guy is absolutely drunk on power.
As he has absolute, total, and unquestionable control, he’s not about to give it up willingly. It will take either a Federal Order (won’t happen!), bipartisan agreement in the State legislature (won’t happen!) or his removal from office (very remote possibility) to put the power back in the hands of the Legislature where it belongs.
We here in Wash. State may have opened a pandora’s box from which there is no return. Coupled with the republican’s seeming inability to offer up a serious oppositional candidate, the King will likely be in power for some time.
No, am not drinking. Yes, I can easily envision King Insleez being in power for years to come (not weeks or months). After all, it’s only two weeks “to flatten the curve”… remember that? Well, we’re on about day 760 now.
When this issue was raised in the legislature this past session, one of those who testified admitted there are other ongoing emergency declarations that serve to keep getting emergency funds! We need an audit of all the ongoing emergencies that have been declared with start dates. Apparently there are no end dates to several emergencies in WA state. The democrat majority in the legislature didn’t want to end the emergency either, it was allowed to continue.
As Susan stated, Inslee is drunk on power and does not want to give up his toy. Watch any press conference with him and when this subject is broached, he becomes BIG mad. He is planning to bring masks back.. mark my words. It will take every person in WA to stand up and say no. However, that will not happen.. I still see people to this day standing outside wearing them or in their car. Why? There is absolutely no reason for this.. of course Scott will say differently but beginning to think he is paid by Inslees office. Time will tell.. just say no kids.
He will not give up without a fight. If he gives in, then his reign of terror and power will be over. A democrat will never give up their power if it is the only thing they have going. Inslee and his policies, like his bid for president, are all bad. Power as Governor is the only thing he has to hang onto. He will not give it up, and the democrat majority in the state will back him up.
Absolutely one hundred percent agree. You have people like Scott who just want to agree with everything Inslee does just to be obstinate. It is clear the fake governor (because he was not voted in.. he didn’t even campaign. He lost) is completely in love with his power and will not give it up. Don’t put the masks back on.. begging people.