Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Have you bought into Gov. Jay Inslee’s newest coronavirus recovery scheme, his “Healthy Washington-Roadmap to Recovery?”
If you haven’t, you’re not alone. In fact, many people around the state are objecting to it. From Whitman County on the Idaho border to Whatcom County in Northwest Washington, county commissioners and local health officials are standing up and objecting to the governor’s attempt to strip local health care authority and give it to those he would appoint in eight, multi-county regions.
Residents and business owners, too, are pointing out the incredible hypocrisy of allowing the coronavirus-plagued area of our state — Puget Sound — to open ahead of counties with virtually no cases.
But the issues relating to this newest of the governor’s phased schemes are more than just objectionable: The science isn’t proven. Arbitrary regional designations are meaningless. Regional numbers are error-prone. And the governor doesn’t have the statutory authority to create health regions stripping local officials of their duties.
We’re in this shutdown mess because few people stood up to the governor and his ever-changing recovery plans.
Not anymore. County commissioners are standing up. Local health officials are speaking out. And local businesses are offering inside services regardless of what the governor and state agencies may be trying to impose.
Last week, two newly elected county commissioners took the governor to task for data errors in coronavirus reporting.
Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney and Benton County Commissioner Will McKay challenged the governor on the numbers he was using to keep their counties — as well as Columbia, Walla Walla, Franklin and Kittitas counties — essentially shuttered in this scheme’s Phase 1 designation. After they voiced their concerns, Rep. Dan Newhouse reiterated their concerns. Then, the governor suddenly announced Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla had been reporting incorrect information and immediately bumped the region Phase 2.
But the information wouldn’t have been uncovered if the two commissioners who ran on reopening the state hadn’t taken leadership roles on the matter.
McKinney called the change the result of Eastern Washington “tenacity,” and her having “the loudest voice.”
Reporting errors are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the current recovery plan being offered by the governor.
Designating regions is not among the governor’s statutory abilities. He and other Democrats in Olympia figured that out last month when they introduced House Bill 1152 and Senate Bill 5173. Both are moves to give the governor the legal authority to create health regions.
McKinney has already stepped up to oppose the bills, even testifying against them.
House Bill 1152 is being co-sponsored by Spokane Democrats Rep. Timm Ormsby and Marcus Riccelli, who represent the 3rd Legislative District. Spokane, of course, is the giant in Gov. Inslee’s “East” region and the reason the surrounding counties of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Whitman, Adams and Lincoln aren’t completely open already.
Interestingly, no lawmaker from a rural area of Eastern Washington is backing the bills.
Which brings us back to regionalization of health care in the name of coronavirus. When pressed on the failed plan during a recent press conference, Gov. Inslee was defiant, suggesting he knows best and that any other plan would also draw complaints.
But here, east of the Cascades, we know one size does not fit all. Regionalizing health care only moves the decisions further from the people who may need help.
It’s time the governor abandoned this idea and move onto his next phased plan. That’s something he’s done multiple times over the last 11 months for not only recovery and reopening the state, but for allowing students back in school, resuming high school sports and even determining who can get a vaccination.
Better yet, instead of yet another phased plan, let’s just get back to business, education and life here in Eastern Washington.
– Roger Harnack is the publisher of Free Press Publishing. Email him at [email protected].
Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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