Bill aims to split Washington in half
Agriculture has a much larger role in eastern Washington than in the western part of the state.
Charles H. Featherstone/Columbia Basin Herald
Legislation that would separate eastern Washington from the west side of the state has made its way to the state legislature once again.
“The main thing is representation,” Rep. Rob Chase, R-Liberty Lake, said. “Most of the east side is red, and most of the west side is blue.”
House Bill 1239 would form the state of Liberty — an independent state composed of counties in eastern Washington, according to the bill’s text.
The western border of Liberty would align with the western bounds of Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima and Klickitat counties. The bill would establish committees to help develop the new state.
The committees would consist of four state legislators and one consultant or support staff, according to the bill’s text. Committees would focus on policy-related areas, such as local government functions, education and agriculture.
Chase is HB 1239’s primary sponsor. Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is a co-sponsor on the bill.
“As long as I can remember, there’s been talk about splitting the state,” Dent said.
Chase said he remembers when late Sen. Bob McCaslin Sr. introduced a bill similar to HB 1239. McCaslin’s son, Rep. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, is now co-sponsoring the bill with Chase.
The east side of the state holds conservative values and has a more “rural flavor” compared to the west side, Chase said. HB 1239 would help start a blank slate that better reflects the values of eastern Washington communities.
Dent said HB 1239 may not get a hearing. However, the bill is a statement that emphasizes how eastern Washington communities are tired of being dictated to by leaders on the west side of the state.
“We have a different way of life and a different culture over here than they have over there,” Dent said.
Chase said having a new state would allow communities to make their own decisions when it comes to things like vaccines, which is one of the topics a lot of people have an issue with these days.
“Mandated vaccination sounds like 1984 … some (dystopian) future,” Chase said.
People on the west side may think it would be crazy to separate the east from the west, Chase said. However, it all comes down to having fair representation, which is what he hopes to accomplish with HB 1239.
Representatives had not voted on HB 1239 as of Tuesday.