mike-chapman

By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – State Rep. Mike Chapman is bucking his party as a co-sponsor of a bill that aims to curb the governor’s emergency powers. HB 1772 would require legislative involvement in any state of emergency that lasts more than 60 days.

Gov. Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic on February 29, 2020. That’s a month and a half short of two years ago. Since then, Republicans have been very vocal about their opposition to Inslee’s many additional proclamations, including vaccine mandates, school closures and bans on large gatherings. For Chapman, a Democrat, HB 1772 is about what he believes are necessary checks and balances.

“To me, this has nothing to do with the current pandemic. It has nothing to do with the current governor or the current legislature. This is something the state should have in place for all future legislatures, all future Governors and all future public emergencies. If a public emergency needs to extend past 60 days, then the legislature should be involved in it, it’s just simple as that. This is nothing personal. I’m not criticizing specific decisions that have been made over the last two years. I just don’t believe that a public emergency should be extended by one person with no check and balance, no ability for the legislature to weigh in. It’s just a core belief that I have.”

HB 1772 would require the legislature to be consulted before any additional emergency declarations are made past 60 days, give them the power to end a state of emergency, and, perhaps the most controversial line in the bill, the Governor would be prohibited from reinstating the same or even a similar state of emergency when the original has expired.

“We were founded on checks and balances, and I know it’s difficult. Look, it’s difficult to criticize the executive of your own party. Trust me. I’m the only Democrat who has sponsored this legislation, but I would argue that down the road, if a Republican governor was using this authority with no check and balance, that the Democrats would want to curb that authority. I mean, this is a fundamental principle for me. This is not a partisan issue.”

It’s a short 60-day legislative session that got under way this week, and lawmakers have a long list of pressing issues to consider. Bills like 1772 have to be assigned to a committee, where leadership can decide to amend it, substitute it or present it to the house as-is. Many bills don’t make it past the committee phase. Bills must also make it through a rules committee, second reading and third reading before they get passed. What does Rep. Chapman think this bill’s chances are?

“We also have a very short session, so things move pretty quick. You know, unfortunately, I don’t believe this bill will see the light of day. I don’t think it’ll move anywhere and I think that’ll be a missed opportunity once again.”

Mike Faulk, a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office said, “After everything we have gone through and continue to experience, there is no plausible reason to pass laws that would limit the tools we have to protect public health.”