WA gym owner: ‘Jay Inslee is not going to pay my bills for me’

Michael Nick, the owner of Graham Fitness in Graham, Wash., says the governor’s COVID restrictions are hurting his ability to feed his family, as well as infringing on Constitutional rights by picking and choosing the businesses that can be open. He plans to defy the order and joined the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH to discuss.

“I’ve got a family to feed. I’ve got a 2-year-old girl. I’ve got a 4-year-old boy, possibly a baby on the way. And I have to provide for my family. Jay Inslee is not going to pay my bills for me, so I have to do what it takes to survive,” he said.

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“I think the governor could make as many recommendations as he wants, but he cannot infringe on our rights. He’s sworn an oath to the Constitution that he would not infringe on the liberties of the people, and that’s exactly what he’s doing,” Nick added. “The government can’t give certain corporations in Washington state the ability to be open and close other ones. Our state constitution says that corporations have to be treated equally and that’s not being respected.”

It’s a sentiment being echoed by Sen. Judy Warnick (R–Moses Lake), who argues that closing down gyms and restricting youth sports is not a logical move based on the COVID data we currently have. She wants some accommodations to be made, but will the governor adjust to them?

“I don’t know whether the governor will give in or not. This is another one of his one-man show decisions. In my opinion, he hasn’t really consulted with communities, with the health centers and the gyms, I don’t believe. Because if you look at data the way he is encouraging us to do … gyms and youth sports, and even adult sports, are not the areas that people are contracting COVID,” she said.

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“So why in the world are we asking them to close when people really need to get outside? … You know, we need to be not only asking people to be healthy and stay away from COVID, but we need mental health and physical health and that’s not what’s happening if we close all these facilities down.”

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3 – 6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.