RON MUZZALL: Almost half-way through the 2021 legislative session
Sen. Ron Muzzall sent out a legislative update to constituents from his official email account on Sat., Mar. 6, 2021.
Greetings Friends and Neighbors,
The 2021 legislative session is fast approaching the halfway mark. Given the changes in our legislative work, it’s critical that I get your feedback on things I’m working on and keep you apprised of what your state government is doing. So, my seatmates and I will be hosting a joint virtual town hall in mid-March. See below for more details.
We’ve been working late into the evenings debating and passing legislation that originated in the Senate. After March 9, we’ll start looking at bills that came over from the House of Representatives as they go through the committee process.
Despite some heavy, pressing issues facing Washington’s citizens, there have been some real missed opportunities. To start the session, the majority decided to cede a lot of oversight of the executive branch and that theme continued with bill after bill that only grows the size of state government.
While our small businesses are struggling to survive, and students and families are coping with significant learning loss, the Legislature hasn’t really delivered solutions to these issues. There has been a consistent lack of accountability where the state has dropped the ball. Our state’s vaccine rollout has been inequitable and frenzied, and those out of work couldn’t depend on the state for benefits they earned.
We heard all last year how dire the state’s budget was going to be, but most recent revenue forecasts show we have rebounded. In fact, we are one of the states in the country that has best endured the COVID pandemic from a budgetary perspective. That is due in large part to our stable tax structure that the majority is seeking upend with a volatile type of income tax.
Let me be clear; we don’t need it and it’s likely unconstitutional. Adding new taxes during an economic recovery is not a good idea. Our budget outlook takes the wind out of the sails for any argument for a state income tax or the numerous other tax proposals making their way through the Legislature.
Just give it away
While legislatures across our country are in session, one of the most significant issues they’ve tackled has been to look at how their states responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spotlight are discussions on the powers of governors that realistically have gone virtually unchecked. That is particularly relevant here in Washington state.
I fought all year to ensure that your voice was heard in those decisions, but as a part-time legislature, we were severely limited in what we could do. Now that we are in session, it looks like the majority will let us adjourn without addressing that fundamental question about what an appropriate use of executive power is, and when the people’s representatives must weigh in. Even the state of New York, led by a Democratic majority, has made moves to take back the governor’s expanded pandemic powers. File this example as another unfortunate missed opportunity.
Health care affordability
Our state is gradually moving toward a universal health-care system. Before I arrived in Olympia, legislation was adopted to study and develop a pathway there. The Senate recently approved SB 5399, creating a universal health-care commission. The goal being, by 2026, to implement and develop a publicly financed health-care plan with private and public delivered care. I sponsored an amendment that would have required a finance committee to develop a financially feasible and cost-efficient model to fund such a plan.
The majority did not accept that modest proposal. However, it did approve my other amendment that requires the involvement of local health jurisdictions. As I’ve said before, I firmly believe that the best government is the one closest to the people and our local health authorities will be able to provide more meaningful insights on this process. However, without provisions to ensure such a program would actually be financially feasible and cost-efficient, I could not support the legislation.
The remote nature of our work in Olympia is both an opportunity for increased accessibility, but also presents some challenges. The nice thing is that, in many ways, engaging with the process can be more convenient, as people in our district don’t have to make the hours-long trek to Olympia to provide input on the process. To that end, my seatmates and I will be holding a virtual town hall to provide 10th District residents with an update on the Legislature’s work and get your feedback.
Please hold March 17th for the event. More details on how to participate will be sent out soon.
My office is here to help where we can. Email continues to be the best way to contact me. It is an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Ron Muzzall
Your 10th District State Senator
