JASON RANTZ

How to get involved in WA legislative session with COVID changes

Jan 11, 2021, 4:25 PM

Olympia, legislative session, inslee covid, capital gains tax, unemployed...

The Capitol Building in Olympia. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

The Washington Legislature is going back into session and, of course, it’s going to be operating much differently than normally as a result of COVID, potentially making it more difficult for the public to be more involved in what’s going on. To give a sense of what to expect and share how people can get involved, Washington state GOP Chair Caleb Heimlich joined the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH.

Usually, people would be able to head down to the capitol, they might testify in person, they might be able to have a conversation face to face with a lawmaker, but they’re not going to be able to do that this time.

“Yeah, so there will be tools and you can look this up online and we’ll be posting it on our website wsrp.org for ease of access, but you can sign up to testify on bills online, actually from home, on Zoom, and so we will post those links. … You can sign in and choose, ‘OK, I wanna testify on this upcoming bill when it’s in committee,'” he said.

New law would urgently admit those who need inpatient addiction treatment

“The other thing that’s important to do is to make phone calls and send emails directly to your legislators, particularly on bills that you’re especially passionate about and that matter to you and your family,” he added.

While he doesn’t find it ideal, Heimlich says this process may allow a greater array of voices to be heard than just from those who typically show up in person.

“I think it’s important to point out that typically during a legislative session, if anybody’s ever watched TVW — which is incredibly boring, but you are watching what’s going on — 99% of the people that show up in Olympia on most bills and testify are in favor of bigger government, they’re on the left, they’re the activists,” he said. “Because those of us on the right have jobs, we have families, and we have lives going on. So it is incredibly important when you’re tracking a piece of legislation, when you’re tracking a bill, that we get involved. And having it virtually, I think, actually gives us that opportunity.”

Seattle activist: Wrong to assume the city is properly tackling homelessness

“You can do it from home,” Heimlich said. “You don’t even have to go all the way down to Olympia. Now, I’m certainly not advocating that this is how we should be doing business — don’t misconstrue my position at all — but there is maybe a slight benefit that people that otherwise wouldn’t be able to have their voices heard are able to log online and testify, and make sure that they are able to speak out against the capital gains income tax, speak out against these things that Governor Inslee is pushing that will be really detrimental for the people of Washington state.”

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.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm toThe Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

Jason Rantz

Image: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested at the University of Washington's Gerberding Hall in...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: UW Seattle students planning antisemitic encampment to mirror Columbia University

Antisemites at UW are joining Columbia University and other college students in embracing antisemitism. Their encampment goes up Thursday.

12 hours ago

Image: Governor Jay Inslee calls Bob Ferguson's ferry plan "brain dead" at Earth Day press conferen...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Drama! Governor Jay Inslee slams Bob Ferguson’s ‘brain dead’ ferry plan

What does Governor Jay Inslee think about Bob Ferguson's stolen ferry plan? He called it "brain dead." Did he do this on purpose?

2 days ago

Seattle students rally...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Seattle-area students to stage hate rally Tuesday as antisemitism on campus surges

Seattle-area students are holding antisemitic events throughout the state. Parents expect rally after rally to espouse antisemitism.

3 days ago

Photo: Photo: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major case around homeless camping bans. It could ...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: United States Supreme Court could save Seattle from homeless crisis

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major case around homeless camping bans. It could finally end the progressive policy grip on Seattle.

4 days ago

Photo: Housing in the Puget Sound....

Jackson Meyer

Washington sees decline in new housing permits for second straight year

The decline in new housing permits could mean lower inventory and rising costs for Washington homeowners in the future.

6 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: There Were A Lot of Anti-Israel Protests This Week

We had a whole lot of anti-Israel protests this week. But who are they really? Jason Rantz and Bryan Suits discuss on the KTTH Roundtable. Listen to The Bryan Suits Show weekdays from 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show […]

6 days ago

How to get involved in WA legislative session with COVID changes