Newhouse Condemns Washington Officials for Refusing to Clear Roads

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after information was released detailing Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) rejection of an offer of assistance from Kittitas County for snow removal services amidst the recent winter storm. WSDOT rejected the offer due to the fact that Kittitas County does not mandate the COVID vaccine for its employees.

“Far too many of Washington state’s leaders are more concerned with catering to political pressures than helping their own citizens. WSDOT's refusal to allow Kittitas County workers to clear state roadways because they are not mandated to receive the COVID vaccine is short-sighted and irresponsible, and it demonstrates gross negligence on the part of state officials. Keeping our roads closed endangers the public by blocking essential services and further exacerbates our suffering supply chains, leaving grocery store shelves bare and trucks stranded across the state. And all for some imagined risk that snowplow workers isolated in their cabs – regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated – somehow endanger their neighbors as they provide critical public services?

“It’s time for officials across Washington state to look to the leadership espoused by Kittitas County and strong representatives like King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn by taking action based on the needs of Washingtonians, not the whims of their political ideology. I urge my fellow Washington state representatives to call on WSDOT and the misguided leadership in Olympia to come to their senses and start acting responsibly.”

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