House Republican ranking members and assistant ranking members sent letters to House committee chairs and vice chairs Tuesday requesting public hearings on the measures
Carleen Johnson
The Center Square Washington
Halfway through the legislative session in Olympia, House Republicans are doubling down on pressuring majority party Democrats to hold public hearings on six initiatives to the Legislature.
House Republican ranking members and assistant ranking members sent letters to House committee chairs and vice chairs Tuesday requesting public hearings on the measures which have all been certified by the Secretary of State’s Office.
“There are 2.6 million signatures, and 800,000 voters who signed those initiatives,” Republican Leader Sen. John Braun of Centralia said during a Tuesday morning media briefing. “That’s 20% of our electorate, and they can’t take the time to even hear the initiatives, let alone vote on them?”
Braun added, “That should be unacceptable.”
Democratic leaders of the House and Senate did not hold a media briefing on Tuesday as they typically do, because of floor action in both chambers, but when she stepped just outside House doors, Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia, was asked for comment about the letter from House Republicans.
“I had a good conversation with Rep. Dye today and no decision has been made,” she told The Center Square.
Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, is the ranking Republican on the House Environment & Energy Committee chaired by Doglio, who will decide whether or not Initiative 2117 to repeal Washington state’s cap-and-trade law under the Climate Commitment Act gets a hearing.
The CCA’s carbon auctions are widely perceived to have driven up the cost of gas in Washington state.
Pressed further if her response means she is still open to the possibility of a potential hearing on I-2117, Doglio said, “Absolutely.”
The Legislature may approve the initiatives or send them to voters. If an initiative is rejected by the Legislature or the Legislature takes no action by the end of the session on March 7, the secretary of state will certify the initiative for the next November general election. The Legislature may also pass an alternative proposal to accompany an initiative on the ballot.
The other five initiatives to the Legislature would loosen restrictions on allowing police to pursue dangerous criminals, establish parental rights in public schools, abolish the capital gains tax, allow people who are employed to opt out of the state’s long-term care program, and ban further efforts to pass income taxes.
This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.
Also read:
- Mother’s Day: Remembering my mom and her many endearing qualities
Ken Vance reflects on Donna Vance, a mother who apologized for paying with food stamps. - Let’s Go Washington prepares to gather signatures for income tax repeal effort
Let’s Go Washington needs 308,911 signatures by July 2 to put the income tax before voters in November. - Vancouver Police arrest additional suspect in child molestation investigation
William J. Sneiderwine, 61, faces conspiracy and evidence tampering charges in the Wilmington child molestation case. - Letter: ‘Once you decide your political opponents are sick, you don’t have to listen to anything they say’
Camas resident Tony Teso argues Ken Vance’s column reframes political disagreement as mental illness to avoid engaging on substance. - WDFW offers tips after resident reports a cougar sighting in Vancouver city park
Mitch Ratigan was 20–30 feet from a cougar at Ellsworth Springs Park before grabbing his dog and running. - Opinion: Greg Johnson’s $2 million contract delivered a huge mess
Johnson’s $1.9M pay coincided with IBR costs tripling and construction timeline doubling to 20 years. - POLL: What issue should be the top priority for Southwest Washington’s next member of Congress?
Sen. John Braun criticized WA’s new income tax while outlining his congressional priorities in Vancouver.
