By Patric Haerle

WNPA

Relief for renters, schools, public health agencies and small businesses is rushing through the state Legislature, with

the hope relief can reach people by the end of February.

Two COVID-19 relief plans are competing for approval, one by Republicans and one by Democrats.

The Republican plan is the REAL Recovery for Washington Act. The act is similar to the Democrat plan but proposes a much larger number, around $4 billion.

The Republican plan uses $2.1 billion of the rainy day fund, leaving approximately $240 million. Comparatively the Democrat’s package uses just under $200 million of the fund.

“The need is high and the need is now in the communities that we represent,” said Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-

Auburn, primary sponsor of the Republican plan. “It is hard to imagine a day that could be rainier than the day we

have right now, so if now is not the time to use the rainy day fund, when is?”

The Republican plan includes $1.3 billion for school districts to address learning loss and reopening safely, $834

million for small business grants and tax relief, $600 million for rental assistance, $506 million for testing and

vaccines, and $200 million for a recovery rebate that would include direct aid to citizens.

The Democrat plan, called the Washington Step One proposal, allocates $2.2 billion in federal funds for rental

assistance, public health, education, small businesses and education, among several other areas receiving smaller

amounts.

The Democrat plan includes $668 million for school districts to address learning loss, $618 million allocated for the

Department of Health for vaccine distribution, contact tracing and testing – with an emphasis on vaccinating

individuals needed for school reopening – $325 million for rental assistance, $240 million for small-business grants,

$65 million for immigrants who were left out of previous stimulus packages and $50 million for child care.

Democrats acknowledge more relief will be necessary in months ahead. “This package [the Democrat plan] does not provide the relief that we’re going to need in the long term. This is just the next step. We need Congress to act,” said Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood.

“I think we’re all excited that President Biden has put forward a $1.9 trillion package. The people in this country and the people of our state are going to need a lot more relief than what we have seen so far.”

While Democrats do not oppose the ideas behind Stokesbary’s bill, heavy use of the rainy day fund leaves the state economically vulnerable in the future, Democrats say.

“We’re trying to keep our nuts and berries safe for the difficult months,” said Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane and

chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Liias added: “For the Legislature to move within two or three weeks on a $2.2 billion investment is itself historic. We’re working as fast as we can to…make sure that the public has a chance to weigh in that it isn’t just folks behind closed doors like we’ve seen Mitch McConnell and others do in D.C.”