How Washington Republicans want to restart the economy before Inslee's stay-at-home order ends

Washington state Senator Ann Rivers says she doesn't believe that Gov. Jay Inslee will ease up on the stay-at-home order when it is set to expire on May 4.

"I’m very doubtful," Rivers told KUOW's Bill Radke on The Record.

"I think the governor will push back after the May 4 date, even though I noticed that the Indian casinos will be opening right after the fourth. I think the governor is going to move it out for everyone else to, what I’m hearing, is May 15 or 18."

Inslee said during a public address Tuesday afternoon that the state "will not be able to lift many of the restrictions by May 4." However, no official extension date for the stay-at-home order has been announced.

Washington's Covid-19 outbreak may be slowing but social distancing must persist, Gov. Inslee says

Governor Inslee, along with health officials, want greater testing capabilities and contact tracing to be operational. They also want to see infections rates drop.

While Washington may be "flattening the curve," it has so far plateaued without seeing significant drops in cases. Therefore, Inslee has often commented that the restrictions will be more like a "dial" as the state slowly eases up on restrictions.

New model suggests Washington could ease social distancing by mid-May

Rivers, a Republican politician from Southwest Washington, wants the state to start turning that dial a lot quicker. She and her Republican colleagues are spearheading an effort to open up parts of the state's economy sooner than later.

"I think people, if they had a light at the end of the tunnel, if they could see some way clear for themselves, I think they would be more settled down," she said. "But they are frustrated that they don't get to go fishing …"

Rivers noted the recent protests from fishers on Washington waters, and from others at the state Capitol, defying the stay-at-home order.

“So if you look at it from these individuals, who can’t blow off steam the way they always have, really it’s no wonder we’ve had a spike in domestic violence and child abuse and mental health issues including suicide in our state," Rivers said.

"Because we aren't giving the people any hope that there is an end of this. It’s all doom and gloom. We’re not reporting on the number of people who have had (the virus) and are well now. We are only talking about the deaths."

Amid all of this, about 600,000 people have filed for unemployment in Washington state. The demand has been so severe, it's caused the state's unemployment website to crash. Companies such as Boeing temporarily shut down and have recently restarted operations in the Seattle area, bringing 27,000 people back to work.

"Safe Economic Restart Plan"

The Safe Economic Restart Plan is being promoted by Washington state's Senate Republicans. It proposes a range of actions to open up certain businesses, and modify policies in an effort to provide relief for 230,000 small businesses.

The plan proposes:

• A restart task force to develop a plan for certain businesses to restart operations amid the pandemic.
• Screen workers for antibodies indicating they have already recovered from Covid-19 and will be eligible for work.
• Exempt small businesses from B&O taxes.
• Sales tax holidays to encourage consumer activity around certain times.
• A year-long holiday from the state's unemployment insurance for businesses.
• Delay implementation of the state's new minimum wage set to take effect in 2021.

Read the full list of recommendations here.

Much of the Republicans' proposal centers on "low-risk" sectors of the state's economy, including: auto dealers, landscape services, car washes, remodeling companies/contractors, residential construction, hairdressers/barbers, flower shops, RV parks, dentists, installers of home/commercial security systems, and accountants/tax preparers.

Rivers is pushing for home builders to restart operations. She argues that the Oregon and California's infection rates have been lower than Washington's, yet those states have kept their construction industries up and running.

“I think construction has to be at the top," she said. "The reality is our state enjoys $23 million a day in wages paid to individuals working in the residential construction sector. What that means is right now, all those people are being paid unemployment insurance. So it’s a shift onto the state."

She argues that construction crews know how to work safely and the nature of the job already lends itself to people working more than 6 feet apart.

“Nobody is saying, ‘Hey, just go out there willy nilly,'" Rivers said. "What’s it's really about is for businesses to step up and say these are the proactive approaches we are going to take to keep our people safe. And if Costco and Home Depot can do it, then I feel pretty comfortable that home builders can do it too."