Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage today of Senate Concurrent Resolution 8402, which extends many of Gov. Jay Inslee’s emergency orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“SCR 8402 extends 26 of the governor’s current proclamations indefinitely. Over the last 10 months, we have had to explain to constituents, damaged business owners and those negatively affected by the governor’s shutdowns that, even though there was no special session, once we got into regular session lawmakers would represent their best interest and attempt to resolve their issues through the regular legislative process. I’m so disappointed that with a single vote today, the Senate abdicated its authority and responsibility as an equal branch of government. The majority’s decision lets those constituents down and denies them the representative government they have waited so long to see.”

SCR 8402 passed along party lines, 28-19.