In Washington state, however, the pandemic will continue to be a literal emergency—for at least another seven weeks. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that he will end the state’s COVID emergency declarations on October 31—a mere 975 days after the first emergency order was implemented on February 29, 2020. According to the Seattle Times, the governor issued 85 emergency orders during the pandemic, 23 of which are still in effect. And it’s probably safe to say that no governor has had a more self-aggrandizing perception of his emergency powers. It’s an indictment of Inslee’s sense of judgment and leadership skills, and it should be a warning to lawmakers that the laws governing Washington state’s emergency executive powers need pruning.

Source: Fox News September 16, 2022 21:58 UTC