Senate Bill 5114, safely reopening Washington, has been heard in the Senate State Government Committee. An incredible 1,500 citizens, business owners and associations registered their support for the legislation. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Senators John Braun (R-Centralia) and Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah).
If enacted the bill would require the state to ease restrictions on businesses that can show they can open and operate safely. Currently, retailers are only allowed to have a maximum of 25% capacity in their stores and indoor dining is banned in most restaurants except those with adequate ventilation.
Hundreds of businesses have been forced to close forever. Thousands of Washingtonians are jobless, and our unemployment rate continues to surpass the national rate. The unfortunate part is that reports and statistics don’t support the shutdown. New cases are largely being reported from family gatherings where safety protocols are lax or non-existent.
WR encourages you to contact your elected officials today and ask them to support Senate Bill 5114 to safely reopen Washington for the sake of the workers and the businesses that employ them.
