GOP touts ‘Safe Washington’ plan
By Terry Murry on Friday, January 7th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA — Washington House and Senate Republicans have unveiled a package of legislation they saw will increase public safety, reduce crime, and put victims’ and community members’ safety first. The “Safe Washington” plan includes several House and Senate bills to address public safety issues across the state, including legislation aimed at fixing anti-police policies passed last year by majority Democrats.
“Violent crime is at a 25-year high, murder is up 80 percent, aggravated assaults are up, rape is up,” Sen. Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley) said. “These policies are making Washington a dangerous place.”
The Safe Washington plan includes solutions to problems created by last year’s Washington Supreme Court’s Blake decision – a ruling that struck down Washington’s felony drug possession law. It also addresses the issues of violent gang and drug-related crimes, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Additional bills would target retail theft and the theft of catalytic converters, and reform the state Department of Corrections.
“This is at a time when fear is at an all-time high in our communities — in our homes,” Rep. Gina Mosbrucker (R-Goldendale) said. “When we started removing those important tools from law enforcement and allowing criminals to mock the system, this is the outcome.”
The Washington Legislature convenes virtually on Monday.
