Seventeen house Republicans, including representatives from District 19 and District 20, have sent a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee asking him to end COVID-19-related proclamations on wearing masks indoors and requiring proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to access indoor spaces.
The letter cites recent actions taken by the governors of Oregon, California, New Jersey and Delaware to ease their indoor masking and vaccination restrictions.
The letter was drafted by Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, who issued a statement in support of the document on Wednesday.
"We've passed an inflection point in the COVID crisis. We're on the downside of the epidemiologic curve, first defined by Farr's Law,” said Walsh.
"It's time to walk back the state policies and actions that have interrupted Washingtonians' lives for the last several years. My colleagues and I have asked Governor Inslee to take important steps in that process — including removing the state's current indoor mask policy. And to do so immediately. It's essential that he does."
The letter itself encourages Inslee to “reconsider your recent emergency proclamations and orders that restrict Washingtonians’ actions and movements“ and to “act decisively to restore the quality and liberty of our people’s lives.”
It can be read in full on Walsh’s website, https://jimwalsh.houserepublicans.wa.gov/2022/02/09/rep-jim-walsh-says-its-time-to-end-the-covid-related-restrictions-a-letter-to-the-governor/.
