Tag Archives: Special Session

Update from Olympia

“We must continue to push back” is my mantra. I recently admonished my colleagues for failing to take up a resolution that would have called the Legislature back into session. I’m hearing from constituents and people all over the region, from each end of the political spectrum, that what the governor is doing with these unilateral mandates is wrong.

Under my proposal, the Legislature should have called itself into a special session by Sept. 14, but the Senate Rules Committee had not met for a procedural vote. It’s unlikely that the governor would call a special session to curb his own emergency powers, but under the state constitution the Legislature can call itself into session

The House and Senate early this year adopted joint rules, which begins with a resolution submitted to the Senate Rules Committee, something that has never been done in state history.

We set up this process, but it seems that the majority party is more concerned with protecting the governor’s autocratic powers than representing the people. My constituents are clear that they want the Legislature to act to curb the governor’s vaccine mandates and emergency powers, and protect local control in schools and fix flawed police reform legislation. We can’t do that if the majority refuses to even get on the record.

It appears, however, that rules we just put in place are flawed by requiring a specific date for commencing a special session, with no timeline for when the Rules Committee must convene to vote. On Aug. 31, I sent the resolution for consideration, but legislative leaders have yet to respond.

I want the people I represent to know that I am doing everything in my power to make their voices heard on these issues. All we are seeing is obstruction and delay from the majority. It’s not just my district either. These issues aren’t partisan. My advice to people frustrated over the erosion of their civil liberties and our democracy is to contact Democratic legislators and urge them to support this special session effort.

This isn’t a debate about being pro or anti vaccine. Sadly, it seems we’ve lost the ability to have any rational discussion about these policy issues and how the state should be responding. I’m approaching this from a pro-freedom perspective. If people want to get the vaccines, they should. But the state shouldn’t coerce, force, or threaten people who choose not to. I’m deeply concerned what these mandates will do. While they are meant to reduce virus deaths, are they going to cause more deaths because of lack of nursing staff in hospitals or harm public safety?

Senate Democrats miss deadline on special session vote

State Sen. Phil Fortunato is admonishing his Democratic colleagues for failing to take up a resolution sent to the Senate Rules Committee for a vote. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who chairs the committee, Fortunato notes that the Legislature should have called itself into a special session by Sept. 14, but the Rules Committee had not met for a procedural vote.

It’s unlikely that the governor would call a special session to curb his own emergency powers, but under the state constitution the Legislature can call itself into session. Fortunato’s letter started the process outlined in joint rules adopted this year by the House and Senate, which begins with a resolution submitted to the Senate Rules Committee, something that has never been done in state history.

“We set up this process, but it seems that the majority party is more concerned with protecting the governor’s autocratic powers than representing the people,” Fortunato exclaimed. “My constituents are clear that they want the Legislature to act to curb the governor’s vaccine mandates, emergency powers, protect local control in schools, and fix flawed police reform legislation. We can’t do that if the majority refuses to even get on the record.”

Fortunato is concerned that the joint rules are flawed by requiring a specific date for commencing a special session with no timeline for when the Rules Committee must convene to vote. The resolution was sent for consideration on Aug. 31, but legislative leaders have yet to respond.

“I want the people I represent to know that I am doing everything in my power to make their voices heard on these issues,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “All we are seeing is obstruction and delay from the majority. It’s not just my district either. These issues aren’t partisan. My advice to people frustrated over the erosion of their civil liberties and our democracy is to contact your Democratic legislators and urge them to support this special session effort.”

Inslee’s extreme actions demand stronger, historic response from legislative branch, Freedom Caucus members say

Since Gov. Jay Inslee announced renewed masking requirements and vaccination mandates, legislative offices have been flooded with messages in strong opposition. The Freedom Caucus is backing a resolution for a historic legislative special session that would cover key policy areas being voiced by their constituents:

  • Public safety;
  • Emergency-powers reform;
  • Vaccine mandates; and
  • Local control over masks schools.

“I feel very strongly that we should send a clear, concise message about personal freedom to the people we represent.  Vaccine mandates and other state edicts should be local decisions. Our constituents don’t want legislative double speak,” state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn said. “They are asking us to ‘do everything in our power’ to protect against losing their jobs because of their personal health decisions.”

“The governor has one of the harshest mandates in the country,” said Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “Even many of those who have taken the vaccine and are supportive of the vaccine effort in general are opposed to this overreaching order. It threatens our workers in state government, K-12 schools, the health-care sector, childcare, and other fields of public service with the destruction of their livelihoods.

“The governor is saying that he will end your career, take food off your table and prevent you from feeding and providing shelter for your family unless you agree to comply with his order to inject a relatively new vaccine into your body. That is an unacceptable encroachment on individual liberty that all lawmakers have an obligation to address.”

Freedom Caucus members point to a lack of legislative consultation and oversight of the governor’s actions. Other states’ legislatures have acted to rein in executive powers. Washington remains an outlier, having been under a state of emergency for more than 550 days with no signs of the executive branch relinquishing its unilateral control.

“This new abuse of power further confirms that the Legislature erred when it allowed the governor to continue his COVID emergency powers,” said Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. “This has resulted in cruel and harsh punishment to the citizens of Washington. The governor’s actions continue to demonstrate he has no desire to share the decision-making process by keeping other elected officials on mute.”

Underscoring the varying differences in how COVID-19 is handled around the country, state Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale noted, “The science in Florida and the science in Washington is the same. Only the governors are different. They have much greater freedoms in Florida than Washington while health statistics are similar.  We need a legislative session now in Olympia to let the voices be heard of those who the freedoms enjoyed in other states.”

As Inslee’s mid-October deadline for forced vaccinations looms, some political allies of the governor and legislative majority are voicing their opposition, even going as far as filing a lawsuit to delay the mandate on state workers. Numerous first responders around the state and nation also are taking a similar stance in opposition to a heavy-handed vaccine mandate as a condition of employment.

“I will stand in solidarity against any vaccine mandate for our children, police officers, firefighters, medical workers, state workers and private-sector workers,” Sen. Jim McCune, R-Graham added. “I’m 100% for medical freedom and constitutional rights. The governor does not have the authority to mandate vaccines under state law. Let’s stand together against this overreach.”

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.

Wildfire emergency puts Inslee in a box for special session, says Fortunato

Legislature should convene in October

Republican efforts to convene a special legislative session, led by state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, to address the state’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic since April have largely gone unheeded by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Instead, the governor has chosen to sideline the Legislature, issuing executive orders, with little to no input from lawmakers. Now, with another declared emergency for wildfires around the state, it appears that Inslee has no option but to allow the Legislature to officially meet, as Fortunato points to a law concerning catastrophic events.

“I believe the decision about whether to engage with the Legislature has been taken out of the governor’s hands,” Fortunato said. “I have personally felt that no emergency exists anymore as it relates to managing COVID. Lawmakers should be debating many of these policy and spending decisions. Inslee keeps on insisting that Washington is in a state of emergency, so I’m going to take him at his word. Under the law, the Legislature must come back into session. It’s that clear.”

In a letter to Inslee, GOP state senators cited Revised Code of Washington 42.14.030, which stipulates:

“…In the event of a catastrophic incident, the governor shall call the legislature into session as soon as practicable, and in any case within thirty days following the inception of the catastrophic incident. If the governor fails to issue such call, the legislature shall, on the thirtieth day from the date of inception of the catastrophic incident, automatically convene at the place where the governor then has his or her office…”

Lawmakers asked the governor what his plans were under this statute so that they can begin planning. Receiving no response yet, Fortunato is urging his colleagues to proceed.

“We’ve given the executive enough time and leeway, but it’s apparent that the voice of the people needs to be heard,” Fortunato added. “I’m urging my colleagues to convene as soon as possible to deal with the significant budgetary impacts of this shutdown, no later than October 6-8, and do the job we were elected to do – represent our constituents. The law is clear that we should finally get to work.”

Fortunato makes second call for Special Session

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, I’ve had serious concerns about how the governor was implementing our state’s response. Initially, we did the right thing and came together to stop the spread of the virus. However, I took exception when the administration started picking economic winners and losers with a totally inconsistent policy. You could build tax-payer funded housing, but private construction was stopped.

It is clear that the Legislature needs to step in and provide oversight to the litany of executive orders issued by the governor. It is our responsibility to our constituents to make sure that their voice is heard and that executive power is in check. We can’t do that unless we are in session. This is my second attempt to convince my colleagues that we need to act and call ourselves into session. You can read my email to them below or click here.