Republicans say small number of Democrats testing democracy by blocking popular bills
Republican leaders told reporters that a few Democrats holding up legislation supported by a wide majority of lawmakers was “a test of where democracy in Washington is going.” Republicans said this was true for bills that would restore vehicular police pursuits to pre-2021 standards and may be true for various proposals recriminalizing drugs after the state Supreme Court struck down Washington's drug possession law.
Lawmakers discussed a variety of other subjects, including housing, riparian buffers for salmon protection, nurse staffing, a proposed memorial commemorating eastern Washington and a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, called the Oakley Carlson Act.
In addition to Walsh, others joining the media were House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox (R-Yelm) Senate Republican Leader John Braun (R-Centralia) and Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake).
