With a phone call, WA governor keeps emergency powers bill alive
A Senate bill installing new guard rails on a governor’s emergency powers is set for a key vote Friday, due in large part to a phone call from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson.
The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Election Committee will consider Senate Bill 5434, which days earlier appeared destined for inaction because it had not even received a hearing, a required first stop in the legislative process.
The situation changed soon after Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Wooley, reached out to Ferguson’s advisors to see if their boss might get involved. Wagoner remembered Ferguson said during his inaugural address he backed “reasonable limits” on gubernatorial emergency powers.
Ferguson phoned the committee chair, Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, who, following the conversation, slotted the bill for a hearing on Feb. 14 and Friday’s vote.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/17/with-a-phone-call-wa-governor-keeps-emergency-powers-bill-alive/