Gov. Inslee seeks major disaster declaration so more workers can get unemployment

Washington’s unemployment benefits program would be expanded to thousands more residents if President Donald Trump declares the novel coronavirus pandemic a major disaster, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.

“We know how many people are going to experience ... short-term unemployment, but we want to be there for them. Their families are certainly in anxiety about this right now,” the governor said.

Currently, part-time and self-employed individuals are not eligible for state unemployment benefits. They would be if the President deems COVID-19 a major disaster and the outbreak caused their jobs to be lost or interrupted. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also would help the state pay for those benefits.

The governor made his comments a day after he signed an executive proclamation to temporarily shut down restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities for at least two weeks. Restaurants are allowed to provide take-out, drive-through and delivery services but no in-person dining is permitted. The ban does not apply to grocery stores and pharmacies.

Washington is facing a potential wave of unemployment applications because of the business closures announced Monday.

“Our phones are very busy, and our website saw over 200,000 individual hits on (Monday),” said Nick Demerice, a spokesman for the state Employment Security Department, which administers the unemployment benefits program. “I think we’ve got a lot of folks who are very concerned and are reacting in real time to ‘what we can do.’ “

The governor said he is considering other steps to help those impacted by the outbreak, but final decisions had not been made yet.

“We’ve not been able to nail them down — everything from eviction relief to some other indebtedness, or some things we are considering regarding taxes and payments,” he said.

House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox of Yelm said to help small business owners, the state should consider deferring tax payments and rolling back the business and occupation tax increases that the Legislature approved in 2019. He also said individuals can take several actions on their own.

“If you are a public employee, if you are a member of the military, if you are an employee of a large corporation, generally you are still collecting a paycheck. I think it’s our responsibility to keep the economy going as much as we can. Many of the restaurants are trying to do curbside service. We need to take advantage of that. Any way you can patronize a local small business over the next few weeks, we should be doing that,” Wilcox said.

Inslee spoke to reporters after signing a bill that appropriates $200 million for the coronavirus response. That consists of $175 million to state and local public health agencies and $25 million for a new unemployment account to help businesses and workers disrupted by the pandemic.

Asked if $200 million is enough, Inslee said it’s “very possible” the state will need further appropriations and he said he would not be reluctant to call a special legislative session if necessary. He said he has asked the House and Senate to be prepared to convene electronically to avoid a gathering of 50 or more people, which currently is prohibited under the governor’s emergency powers.

Also on Tuesday, Inslee said:

• The option of “shelter in place” — which the San Francisco Bay area put into effect on Monday, ordering people to stay in their homes unless they have to do “essential” things such as buying groceries or picking up medicine — has not been “ruled in or out” in Washington. The state is examining traffic counts to try to determine how much social distancing measures have reduced interactions between people.
• Trump has agreed to revise how the federal government distributes medical equipment to states from the Strategic National Stockpile, as Washington requested. The decision is expected to accelerate the delivery of masks, gloves and other equipment. The Department of Defense also is expected to provide hospital space at facilities in Washington.
• The Food and Drug Administration has granted Washington’s request allowing the state public health laboratory to validate testing protocols for coronavirus in privately-owned laboratories. “When we do that, that will help the whole country, so these labs can move forward,” the governor said.
• The state has waived the requirement for eye examinations for renewal of driver’s licenses through April 15. People share and frequently touch the equipment, which could lead to further transmission of the coronavirus.

This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 5:45 AM.