Legislators want to take control of recovery plan
By Terry Murry on Monday, January 11th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health has announced that the entire state will remain in Phase 1 of the two-phase COVID-19 recovery plan announced recently by DOH and Gov. Jay Inslee.
The DOH said that none of the state’s eight regions met the four requirements to move up to Phase 2. The department has stated that the entire state will remain in Phase 1 at least until Jan. 18.
Meanwhile, Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) is cosponsoring a measure that would take control of the recovery plan and place it in the hands of the Washington Legislature. The Republican minority leader said Senate Bill 5114 would also immediately move all eight regions up to Phase 2. Whether to switch regions either up or down would be determined by the Legislature, if the measure passes.
The measure is not a partisan effort. It is co-sponsored with Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah). It allows for all businesses and all activities impacted by pandemic restrictions to resume as normal under Phase 2 of the reopening plan.
