Washington Governor Jay Inslee has cancelled a series of regularly scheduled meetings with the Republican leader of the state Senate. The move follows Friday’s surprise vote by Senate Republicans to oust Inslee’s Secretary of Transportation.
“Cancellation came from the governor, not from me. My door is always open, I guess his door is closed,” Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler said.
Schoesler said he typically meets with the governor every week to two weeks during the legislative session. Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith confirmed the cancellations -- at least in the short-term.
“Senate Republicans have made it clear they have very different priorities for the session,” Smith said.
In a news conference Monday, Inslee pledged to continue to work with lawmakers despite being “deeply disturbed” by Friday’s vote.
