‘Sad Page in WA State’s History’: Local Lawmakers Decry Inslee Vaccine Mandate as Monday Deadline Passes

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As the deadline closed Monday for state, health care and education workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19, several Washington state Republican lawmakers issued statements decrying Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandate as thousands of workers were expected to lose their jobs. 

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, said the day marked a “sad page in Washington state’s history for many working families. It is clearly evident the governor is more interested in punishing Washingtonians for their beliefs than finding respectful and reasonable solutions.” 

The 20th Legislative District lawmaker said it was disappointing to see the workers choose between “abandoning their deeply-held beliefs or jeopardizing their family’s livelihoods.” 

“Despite the governor’s resistance to helping all Washingontians, many of us are here to help,” Abbarno said, advocating for legislative changes to the mandates. “Once again, I call on Gov. Inslee to abandon these extreme measures and join us to implement reasonable solutions.” 

Senate Minority Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Minority Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, also gave a joint statement Monday about the deadline, highlighting the nearly 600 days Inslee has governed with his state of emergency authority. 

“Coercion, intimidation, threats and public shaming are not tactics a leader should be using against the people. The governor’s obvious disdain for those who are choosing to loes their jobs rather than compromise their right to make their own medical decisions is unhelpful. He is dividing the public -- segregating us and turning people against each other. Yesterday, even unvaccinated health care workers were heroes. Today, they become villains in the governor’s narrative,” the two Legislative leaders said. 



In a statement, Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, called Inslee’s “no jab, no job vaccination policy” unconstitutional, immoral and profoundly un-American. He also called the workers going against the mandate “genuine heroes.”

“A free people should be able to decide for themselves what chemicals they put into their bodies, without fear of losing their careers and livelihoods,” the 19th Legislative District lawmaker said. “The nurses, ferry workers, bus drivers, state patrol troopers and thousands of others who are standing on principle today are defending constitutional rights for all of us. God bless them.” 

Monday, Oct. 18, was the deadline for most state, education, health care and emergency services workers to show proof of vaccination or lose their job. According to The Seattle Times, more than 90% of state workers and 88% of hospital workers have been confirmed as fully vaccinated against the viral disease. 

It’s not known how many K-12 public school employees and volunteers are currently vaccinated as districts are in the process of reporting those numbers to the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. According to the Times, the state could share that data later this month. 

A medical exemption or deeply-held religious exemption were available for workers to utilize prior to this deadline.