Rep. Klippert pre-files legislation to curb Gov’s emergency powers

PASCO, Wash.-- When Washington lawmakers head to Olympia in the new year, they'll consider new legislation brought forward by House Republicans that would limit the amount of time the Governor can impose emergency powers.

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick, says his bill will enforce the state's status as a Constitutional Republic.

"We have three branches in our government. One, the legislative branch, two, the executive branch, and three, the judicial branch," Klippert said on The Bottom Line on Newsradio 610 KONA Wednesday. "Right now it seems in Washington State for several months, the only branch of our government that is ruling or leading us in Washington state is the executive branch, our governor."

Klippert has introduced House Bill 1013, which he says will limit the governor's powers to declare an emergency for 30 days. Any emergency actions beyond that will require approval from at least three of the "four corners" of the legislature- the House and Senate leadership from both political parties.

As a long-time member of the U.S. Military and a current commander in the Washington National Guard, Klippert acknowledges that he supported legislation in the 2019 session that expanded the governor's emergency powers to streamline the state's response in the event of a natural disaster.

"No one foresaw COVID-19 on the horizon," Klippert said. "So, when we gave the governor-- and not Gov. Inslee specifically, but the governor's office-- additional powers in an emergency, we were thinking floods, fires, Cascadian Subduction Zone, and those types of emergencies."

The next legislative session in Olympia is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2021.