OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, shared the following reaction to the announcement from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown that she is rescinding her vaccine mandate for nearly 40,000 state workers.
Brown is quoted in Oregon’s largest newspaper as saying “extraordinary emergency” orders are no longer necessary as “we learn to live with this virus.”
Gov. Jay Inslee has given no indication, however, that he plans to rescind Washington’s vaccine mandate on state employees and others. Republicans are calling on him to follow Oregon’s lead.
“Other state leaders are realizing that we’re in a period of transition from addressing COVID as an emergency to learning to manage it as part of the new normal. We understand Governor Inslee has been reluctant to take Washington through that transition – but it’s time. We know the governor is doing what he thinks is best and doesn’t always like to follow the example of others. But what’s best now is to end vaccine discrimination in state employment. It would help solve current staffing problems, restoring services that are on hold or significantly delayed.
“We urge the governor to trust the people of Washington by moving us even further forward and out of COVID limbo.”