Republican leaders are responding to growing concerns that Governor Jay Inslee has failed to provide fact-based criteria, or even a timeline, for lifting state economic restrictions, and have asked for more legislative involvement in deciding how to re-start Washington’s economy.  House Republican Leader JT Wilcox, who has been mostly supportive of the governor’s previous emergency orders, expressed frustration at the lack of solutions Governor Inslee is currently providing. Wilcox said, “I am deeply concerned about the fact that he depends on the motivation of everyday citizens to comply and you motivate people by giving them goals and letting them be part of the decision. And we all risk a worse result because he’s not willing to communicate with any precision.” (Seattle Times)

The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) is encouraging its members to contact Gov. Inslee and pledge to comply with proper job site safety regulations if he removes his unreasonable ban on residential home construction.  Inslee’s private-sector ban, which Washington is one of only five states (and the only one west of the Mississippi River) to impose, has already cost local Washington construction workers over a half billion dollars in wages. The safety regulations were approved unanimously by a construction working group that Inslee had previously appointed. (BIAW Website and BIAW Facebook post)

Despite Gov. Inslee saying on April 6^th that the state is addressing how to allow “limited school activity for those students in school buildings”, Washington State has yet to develop a plan or procedure to help special needs students. Currently state education guidelines fail to involve the many students with disabilities who cannot learn as well via the computer, or those whose education involves interacting with other individuals. (KUOW)

Wilcox Family Farms donates 600,000 servings of eggs to state food banks. Like many agriculture products which were originally produced to go to state restaurants and hotels, these eggs could have gone to waste.  Wilcox was able to work out the logistics with food bank networks to deliver these products to their clients. The company says they will continue to deliver products to food banks as long as the food service industry is closed.  (YelmOnline)

State labor organizations are creating a division within the Democrat party by supporting a union leader over an incumbent Democrat state senator. In East King County’s 5^th Legislative District, union activist and nurse Ingrid Anderson is challenging Senator Mark Mullet, who is a member of a rapidly shrinking population – a Democrat who owns a small business. (The Stand)

Some Seattle City Councilmembers know they want to raise taxes by a half billion dollars (that’s $500,000,000 for non-math majors), they just do not know how they are going to spend all that new money.  In moving forward on socialist Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s proposal for a job-killing tax on Seattle employers, the council is drafting up a wish list of items the city could spend the new tax revenue on.  We can then expect the councilmembers to use this wish list to “buy” votes (for both the tax proposal and for themselves) from greedy Seattle’s liberal special interest groups. (Seattle Times)

In an op-ed, some Seattle small business owners expressed concerns over the city council moving forward on its half billion-dollar tax on 700+ larger companies.  The small business owners state, “Seattle businesses of all sizes comprise an ecosystem, and it’s incorrect to think this tax would affect only “big” businesses. We coexist in support of each other.” The business owners state that “it makes no sense” that the city’s previous corporate tax failed during a robust economy (in 2018), yet the council is now considering a tax which is 10 times larger during strong economic uncertainty.  Some 9,000 small businesses have sought economic relief from the city, yet “members of our Seattle City Council are proposing a new tax on businesses when they should be focused on doing everything they can to help our local businesses recover.” Maybe if the city council had just one member who owned a business, there would be some economic perspective. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

The Snohomish County Sheriff joins the growing list of officials questioning the constitutionality of some of Gov. Inslee’s emergency orders.  Sheriff Adam Fortney expressed concerns that Governor Inslee is allowing marijuana stores to operate yet denies home construction workers from making a living. Fortney said, “The government should not be picking winners or losers when it comes to being able to make an income for your family.” (Q13 News)

The Mayor of Kent has asked department heads to submit revised budgets with 5% – 20% in proposed cuts.  Due to the severe drop in sales and business tax revenues, Mayor Dana Ralph says the city could be facing a financial crisis worse than during the “Great Recession” and will soon begin laying off city workers. (KING5 News)

King County Metro bus drivers are driving past passengers at stops due to new “social distancing” restrictions. Only 12 riders are allowed on 40-foot buses while 18 passengers are permitted on 60-foot vehicles. (MyNorthwest)

Seattle’s police and fire departments hope to raise awareness that they are still available to serve public safety needs during the COVID-19 crisis.  Many residents, especially seniors, are hesitant to call 911 because of various concerns over the coronavirus. On Friday evening, police and fire vehicles will be driving around Seattle with their lights flashing to remind residents that they are still on duty and prepared to serve. (Seattle Police Facebook)

Yakima County has the highest rate of coronavirus infections in the state.  The county has an infection rate of 337 per 100,000 people (840 cases in the county). The state average is 168 COVID-19 cases per 100,000. The second highest infection rate is in Snohomish County, with 274 infections per 100,000. Ferry County has the lowest rate with 13 cases per 100,000. It should be noted that Yakima and Snohomish also have the highest rate of testing in the state. (Yakima Herald)

Spokane leaders, frustrated by the lack of a plan from Governor Inslee, are asking the public whether the county and Eastern Washington should develop their own regional plan to re-open businesses.  After Inslee failed to provide criteria or a timeline for the state to lift restrictions in his televised photo op earlier this week, the City of Spokane decided to ask the public for its opinion. The city launched a social media poll asking residents 11 questions to obtain their opinions on the best course for Spokane.  The poll is open until 5:00 PM Thursday. (Spokesman-Review and City of Spokane survey)

Governor Inslee’s ban on residential construction is causing financial hardship on many Eastern Washington State residents.  Some homeowners are currently paying mortgages on two properties, because they cannot sell their current home until they move into new homes stalled under construction. Others are without homes because they have already sold their current residence because they expected to move into new homes this spring. (KXLY)

The Benton County Sheriff has joined other law enforcement officials in saying his department will not issue citations to businesses and workers who resume operations while practicing appropriate safety and health precautions.  Sheriff Jerry Hatcher said that while some of Gov. Inslee’s emergency guidelines are necessary for more urban communities, he believes county leaders have a better understanding than state leaders of what their communities need. Hatcher said, “One size does not fit all here.” (YakTriNews)

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