The numbers demonstrate a stark difference between Washington, D.C., and Olympia. They also demonstrate the difference between performative governance and proactive legislation.
In the U.S. Capitol last year, the Republican-led House took 724 votes and approved 27 bills that eventually became law. In contrast, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the House in 2022 (under Democratic control) took 549 votes and passed 248 bills that were signed into law.
In Olympia, meanwhile, the 2023 Legislature passed 450 bills. Not all of those involve new laws, but there is some notable legislation that has taken effect with the start of a new year.
That includes House Bill 1143, a Democrat-supported measure that establishes a 10-day waiting period and the completion of a background check for the purchase of any firearm. It expands the 10-day wait that was established by voters in 2018 for the purchase of a semiautomatic rifle.
In April, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a ban on assault weapons that took effect immediately. “Today Washington state is putting the gun industry in its place and improving the health, safety and lives of our residents,” Inslee said at the time.
Also taking effect this week is a law blocking employers from conducting drug tests for cannabis during the hiring process. Certain industries where marijuana use could be a public safety issue — such as trucking companies or law enforcement — still may test for the substance. And employers may conduct tests in certain situations, such as following a workplace accident.
Meanwhile, hospitals in Washington must now establish staffing committees made up of nursing representatives and administrators. Staffing levels, including a certain number of nurses per patient, must meet state guidelines or hospitals may be subject to fines. The legislation is designed to address concerns that hospitals are understaffed and nurses are overworked, endangering patient health.
Additional legislation involving voting rights, street racing and a tax exemption for newspapers (which will benefit The Columbian) also went into effect Jan. 1. And while most of the new laws will not have a large impact on the daily lives of Washingtonians, each will have an incremental effect.
That leads to a debate about the role of government and the impact of legislation. The Revised Code of Washington includes 106 sections, each known as a “Title” and ranging from “General Provisions” to “Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement.” Each Title contains numerous subsections and sub-subsections, creating a labyrinth that often is nonsensical.
RCW 70.54.050, for example, essentially makes it illegal to appear in public if you are suffering from a common cold: “Every person who shall willfully expose himself or herself to another, or any animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease … shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
That provision, as far as we are aware, is rarely enforced. But it does contribute to a thoughtful examination about laws and the role of government.
The U.S. House of Representatives last year devolved into theatrics, distracted by Republican infighting and specious impeachment inquiries. The legislative body also suffered from the influence of a faction that has little interest in actually governing.
Whether or not that is preferable to a Legislature that acts as though government can effectively fix every problem will be up to voters. But for now, with lawmakers convening next week for the 2024 session, it represents an interesting contrast.
