Gov. Jay Inslee and state agency leaders have organized an aggressive response to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Washington, after one case was confirmed in Snohomish County Jan. 21.
“This is one of the largest public health mobilizations in state history,” Gov. Inslee told reporters at a news conference in Seattle Wednesday. “More than 200 people are currently working on these efforts. It takes a lot of people to track down contacts of those who could be infected and share information.”
At least 16 people in Washington have been tested for the virus, but so far there have been no additional cases.
“As I said last week, public health and safety, as well as the health of patients and our medical providers, is paramount,” Inslee said.
Earlier in the week, the governor met with his cabinet to discuss coordinating efforts with state agencies.
The state Department of Health has partnered with the state Emergency Management Division to create an emergency operations center at Camp Murray, south of Tacoma, in response. Multiple agencies are working through a joint information center to share updates and marshal state resources.
The state Health Care Authority, the state Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife are all contributing and assisting with other state, federal and local partners.
For more on the virus, read this two-page fact sheet from the state Department of Health.
Advocates organized by Moms Demand Action were in Olympia Wednesday for Gun Sense Advocacy Day to inspire support for common-sense solutions gun violence. Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee joined advocates in the conversation.
The group praised the governor’s 2020 supplemental budget proposals to address the need: It includes $1.8 million for evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs, focused on communities facing the highest rates of gun violence in our state.
“Mass shootings are horrible, and urban gun violence also impacts your families and neighborhoods,” Inslee told advocates. “This is why I’ve been working on this issue with communities who experience the most gun violence.”
The governor has also requested legislation to ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons in Washington.
Gov. Inslee celebrated accomplishments for immigrant and Latino families with advocates from OneAmerica on Wednesday. OneAmerica provides education and advocacy important to Washington's immigrant communities.
"I remember when Rep. Pramila Jayapal founded the Hate Free Zone after 9/11," Inslee said of OneAmerica's founder-turned-congresswoman. "Today, the organization has grown into an impressive statewide organization that is a critical voice and advocate for marginalized communities."
Both OneAmerica and the governor stand opposed to the Trump administration's Muslim travel ban, as well as new rules on "public charges". The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed this new attack on immigrant families to proceed despite ongoing lawsuits to stop it.
"We are dismayed by the Supreme Court's recent ruling, but we won't ever stop standing up for this," Inslee told advocates.
Bills to protect domestic workers from abusive employment practices were introduced in the Legislature this week with the full support of Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
"Domestic workers deserve basic labor protections afforded other workers, including wage and hour protections," Inslee told workers and advocates gathered in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday.
The legislation would require employers and others paying wages to domestic workers to provide minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest breaks, and to have the terms of their work in written agreements. It also provides protections for workers from retaliation by employers, and creates notification requirements before terminating employment.
Gov. Jay Inslee spoke in front of 300 advocates from the Children's Alliance for their annual "Have A Heart For Kids" event in Olympia Tuesday. They discussed early learning, health care, ending hunger, access to improved oral health care and protecting immigrant families.
The governor has helped pass legislation critical to children and families throughout his administration, including the creation of a paid family and medical leave program, reforming the behavioral health system, and connecting students to new pathways to college and careers.
Gov. Jay Inslee delivered remarks at "City Action Days," organized by the Association of Washington Cities, highlighting all that has been done to make Washington the best state in the nation to live and work.
"Local governments are the backbone of our state," the governor said.
Inslee highlighted the $4 million in the 2019-21 state operating budget for grants to help local law enforcement address the behavioral health crisis, and a $21.5 million grant and loan program for broadband internet access where the lack of broadband infrastructure is hindering economic development.
The Association of Washington Cities represents all 281 cities and towns in the state. The organization predicts the combined population of Washington's cities and towns will grow by 1 million people in the next decade.
The Association of Washington Business welcomed Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday evening for a fireside chat to talk about what he is doing to help with economic growth in the state of Washington.
The governor noted that since 2013, his Working Washington fund has attracted $1 billion in capital investment across Washington and created or retained 6,500 living-wage jobs across the state, particularly in rural areas.
Washington is also one of the most trade-oriented states in the country. About one-third of all jobs in the state are directly or indirectly related to international trade, and Inslee reiterated his concerns about the effects on business of the Trump administration's foreign trade wars.
Washington exports declined by $620.9 million, or 18.76%, due to Trump's tariff policy. Total state exports of agricultural products declined by $259.7 million, or 24%, according to the state Department of Commerce.
The House this week passed a key piece of the governor's 2020 legislative agenda: A clean fuel standard.
A clean fuel standard would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels. If the bill passes the Senate, Washington will join California, Oregon and British Columbia as West Coast states and provinces that are successfully operating a clean fuel standard program.
On Friday, the Senate passed a repeal of the state's death penalty law for the third time in the last three years. The governor, who in 2013 instated a moratorium on carrying out executions for those on Washington's death row, intends to sign the bill if passed in the House.
Other ongoing legislative priorities for the governor include a ban on high capacity magazines and assault weapons; a multi-family tax exemption housing bill; a shelter capacity bill; and greenhouse gas limits.
The 60-day session is scheduled to run through March 12.
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