Push to limit Washington state governor's emergency powers gains legislative traction

Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee has exercised pandemic-related state of emergency powers for 678 days now.

In the lead-up to Monday's convening of the 2022 legislative session, there are bipartisan indications that lawmakers may finally move to rein in the governor’s emergency powers.

"I have a feeling that the theme of this year's session is going to be 'seeking balance,' " House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said at Thursday's Seattle CityClub legislative preview. "And so, I think that’s what we’ll be trying to do. I expect that we’ll hear some bills on oversight of emergency powers and things like that."

Her comments came after House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, a Republican, sent a letter to Jinkins on Wednesday urging passage of new bipartisan emergency powers legislation, House Bill 1772, during the 2022 legislative session.