Tag Archives: Masks

Strong Republican support for Fortunato special session resolution

A historic legislative special session could be one step closer to becoming reality. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn has been leading efforts to have the Legislature call itself into session in an unprecedented move. The resolutions would allow lawmakers to address the seemingly endless state of emergency, unilateral COVID responses, and the public safety fiasco created by legislative Democrats.

Twelve Republican senators signed Fortunato’s letter to the Senate majority leader urging a procedural vote in the Senate’s Rules Committee.

“The governor is, of course, content in his undemocratic power grab, but the people we represent are not,” said Fortunato. “We have a process by which the Legislature can get into a special session along very specific parameters, and I want my Senate Democrat colleagues to be on the record supporting this autocratic takeover of our democracy. We left important work undone in the regular legislative session and the majority passed some bad policies that we are seeing the effects of. We need to reconvene and fix this mess.”

Fortunato is alluding to major spikes in crime and calls from law enforcement to fix “public safety” legislation that is seen to tie the hands of police around the state. While attempting to dismiss criticism, proponents of the reforms initially said the laws were being misinterpreted, but they now have indicated the new laws need a legislative fix.

“It’s OK to admit you’re wrong, and so far, I’ve been right about how wrong the majority’s policies would be,” Fortunato said. “We cannot wait any longer and most of my Republican colleagues agree. The Legislature should act now, and we need our Democratic colleagues to do the right thing and let the Senate Rules Committee meet and start this process.”

Under the state constitution, the Legislature has the power to call itself into session. In joint rules adopted this year by the House and Senate, the process begins with a resolution submitted to the Rules Committee.

“We hear all the time how we are living in unprecedented times. Well, now is the time to do something actually unprecedented and speak up for the citizens of this state. This nearly two-year experiment of one-man rule needs to end,” added Fortunato.

Fortunato submitted two versions of the special session resolution for consideration.

Version 1 – Covers public safety, reforming emergency powers, vaccine discrimination, and mask mandates in schools.

Version 2 – Covers public safety and reforming emergency powers.

Schools must stand against unconstitutional funding cuts says Fortunato

As Washington schools prepare for the return of nearly 1 million children this fall, new mandates from Olympia are presenting challenges for local districts. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction indicated that districts would face funding cuts if they don’t comply with state public health orders.

State Sen. Phil Fortunato is urging the state’s 295 independent school boards to stand up against the threat and do what’s best for their communities, arguing that the state’s constitution is clear about school funding.

“We just spent nearly a decade in court over school funding. The state has a clear constitutional obligation to fund our schools and educate our children,” Fortunato said. “That doesn’t stop because a politician throws a tantrum and tries to override local control. The state superintendent may think it’s appropriate to punish students by cutting funding, but I don’t, and the courts likely won’t either.”

In a letter to districts, Superintendent Reykdal wrote, “Boards or districts that intentionally disobey, dismiss, or shun an explicit law, including a Governor’s executive order, which has the power of law, will see an immediate halt to their basic education apportionment, and their federal funds that come through OSPI.”

Some districts are pushing back. The Okanogan School District sent a detailed letter to the governor asking him to reverse course, wanting instead to implement optional mask wearing in schools.

“These decisions should be at the discretion of locally elected school boards,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “I believe that our schools should stand up to bullying and do what they think is best. Threatening to withhold funding from students who’ve already lost so much learning due to the pandemic is appalling.”

The U.S. Department of Education said Monday it would continue financial support for school districts that defy state-level orders where bans on mask mandates are in effect.