Initiative aims to limit governor's power

Gov. Jay Inslee may order quarantines and business shutdowns, but he cannot enforce them.

In agreeing with that argument – presented by attorneys for the governor – U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle ruled last Friday that Gov. Inslee cannot be sued for the “unconstitutional” quarantine of healthy residents, shutdown of otherwise viable businesses or mask mandates. According to the judge, state officials can only be sued if they are connected to enforcement of an allegedly unconstitutional mandate.

According to the governor’s attorneys, health officials and other bureaucrats and agencie...