Inslee Says Temporary Hirst Fix Would Include Permanent Permits

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is touring the state highlighting projects that will not be funded due to the absence of a capital budget that was held up over negotiations on water rights.

As a last-second measure to get Senate Republicans to vote on the capital budget, Inslee and House Democrats pushed for a temporary two-year fix that he says would include some stability.

“The offer for the Democrats would give people a permanent well permit. If the Democrats proposal went through here, people would go in next week and be able to get a well permit and it’d be good forever.”

Senate Republicans have passed a fix for the Hirst Decision on four separate occasions and it never got past committee in the House. They’ve also stated that they are not interested in a temporary fix as that would love too many people in unstable situations.

Inslee also noted that this is not an urban versus rural issue, but a statewide concern.

“People sometimes need wells in urban districts. We need both schools and water. We can have both today and to fail to give people what we need today is, in my view, an abdication of responsibility.”

Inslee did note that there are still negotiations going on and if there is an agreement he will call a fourth special session.

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