Griffey calls session 'mixed bag,' Couture disappointed

Reps. Travis Couture and Dan Griffey, both Republicans from Allyn, had a telephone town hall Feb. 20 for 35th District residents to discuss the legislative session.

The state Legislature’s short session ends March 7. “It’s a mixed bag for me this year,” Griffey said.

He was disappointed that criminals’ rights continue to be prioritized over victims’ rights, but happy to see a bill he introduced allowing 10 Washington counties a six-month extension on the state-required comprehensive plan deadline passed by the House.

Couture said a lot was going on in the short session.

The Democrats “sneaked in a bill about rent control,” he said.

The House passed HB 2114, which limits rent increases to 7% a year, Feb. 13. The bill died in the Senate.

“This means rents will predictably rise 7% every year,” Couture said at the town hall before the bill died in the Senate.

He wrote an open letter after House Democrats passed the rent control bill, saying in part:

“Rent control shackles housing providers, stifles investment, and distorts housing markets. It discourages property owners from maintaining and improving their rental units, leading to deteriorating living conditions for tenants. It discourages developers from building new housing, exacerbating housing shortages and driving up prices for everyone else.”

It doesn’t make economic sense for small business landlords to keep renting and they “will get out of the rental market,” he said.

“Are my kids going to have a place to live in our district some day? Elitist mentality has crushed rural communities,” Couture said.

A caller who said he was a builder complained regulations are adding more to home costs. He said new state building codes that will go into effect March 15 will add an additional 35% to 40% to the cost of a house.

Griffey agreed.

“This prices many people out of home ownership,” Griffey said.

Couture added that a potential Democratic-supported ban on natural gas “will be absolutely devasting.”

He said Gov. Jay Inslee is using the Washington State Building Code Council “as his own little fiefdom” to enact his climate agenda.

Both representatives agreed public safety should be a legislative priority.

“We’ve got to get serious again about crime. The majority party is going the wrong way,” Griffey said, referencing the Democrats.

A caller from Shelton asked about the six initiatives that were recently certified. The six initiatives are:

■ I-2109 Repeals the state’s capital gains tax.

■ I-2111 Prohibits the state, counties, cities, and other local jurisdictions from imposing or collecting income taxes.

■ I-2113 Removes restrictions on police pursuits and would allow pursuits upon reasonable suspicion of a crime and posing a threat to the safety of others.

■ I-2117 Repeals the state’s cap and invest program adopted as part of the Climate Commitment Act.

■ I-2124 Allows employees to opt out of the state’s long-term care program at any time.

■ I-2081 Concerns parental rights relating to their children’s public school education.

The Legislature can adopt the initiative as presented, adopt an alternative to the initiative, and then the original and the alternative will be on the ballot this November or take no action and put the initiative on the ballot.

Couture said repealing restrictions on police pursuits, a parental bill of rights and prohibiting an income tax are the initiatives being heard this session.

Griffey said he was worried the Democrats would come out with an alternative to “confuse voters” and cautioned people to carefully watch the language of any new bill.

Couture told callers he wants to hold fentanyl dealers accountable.

“If you are dealing fentanyl, that’s murder. You’re going to kill someone. It’s just a matter of time,” he said.

A Shelton caller asked the representatives why police officers are not allowed to arrest people.

Couture said people should be punished when they commit crimes.

“It’s not left or right anymore, it’s what is normal and what is not,” he said.

Griffey referenced the reduction in police that happened after George Floyd’s murder.

“The majority party cannot get over blaming law enforcement,” he said.

Public safety was the top concern of people who were polled during the call.

The majority of callers gave Washington schools a “D” grade.

“We need to expect more from our kids,” Griffey said. “Too often children run the classroom.”

Griffey said teaching should focus on “how to add 2 plus 2 instead of social emotional learning.”

A caller from Union said it was frustrating that there was no place to put people with mental issues.

Griffey said when he was a firefighter, his last year on the job was heartbreaking. People would be walking in the middle of traffic, having a mental crisis, “and they could not be civilly committed,” he said.

Griffey said he is working with some Democrats on a bipartisan bill that will reform civil commitment.

“Leaving them in the ditch is not love,” he said.