Maureen Walsh
Maureen Walsh | |
|---|---|
| File:MaureenWalsh.jpg | |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 16th district | |
| Assumed office 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Hewitt |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 16th district | |
| In office February 11, 2004 – 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 18, 1960 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kelly Walsh (d. 2006) |
| Children | Shauna Patrick Murphy |
| Residence | College Place, Washington |
| Alma mater | University of Cincinnati |
| Occupation | Senator |
| Website | Official |
Maureen Walsh is a Republican State Senator in the Washington State Senate in the United States. She represents the 16th District of Walla Walla, Washington. As of 2017, she is serving her first term in the state Senate.[1] Prior to her 2016 election to the Senate, she served in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2005 through 2016.[2]
She serves on the Human Services, Mental Health and Housing; Health Care; and Transportation committees.[3] On February 8, 2012, the Washington House of Representatives debated on the legalization of same-sex marriage, in which she made an emotional appeal to the legislators which subsequently went viral.[4][5] The House voted 55-43 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.[6][7]
SHB 1155 Controversy
While debating SHB 1155 in April 2019, a Washington state bill that would guarantee nurses the right to uninterrupted meals and rest periods, senator Walsh argued that the bill should be amended to exclude critical access hospitals that serve less populated areas. She stated,
"By putting these types of mandates on a critical access hospital that literally serves a handful of individuals, I would submit to you those nurses probably do get breaks. They probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day."
She also proposed an amendment prohibiting nurses from working more than 8 hours.[9] She justified this amendment by stating,
"Well, if we have an issue with nurses getting tired, let's quit letting them do 12-hour shifts, let's let them do 8-hour shifts. Like most standard shifts are. Twelve hours, I know they want it, but then they come back and they start talking out of both sides of the mouth and telling us how tired they are."[10]
Her statements went viral with nurses around the nation responding on social media websites with the hashtag #nursesdontplaycards. [11] The Washington State Nurses Association denounced her statements as "incredibly disrespectful and patronizing."[12]
References
- ^ "Local legislators take oath in Olympia". Union Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ^ "Walsh sworn in as senator from 16th Legislative District - Maureen Walsh". Maureen Walsh. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ^ "Walsh sworn in as senator from 16th Legislative District - Maureen Walsh". Maureen Walsh. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ^ "Rep. Walsh remarks on same-sex marriage bill (4:16)". Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "A Lonely Widow's Conscience Helped Gay Marriage Pass in Washington". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "Washington state legislature votes to approve same-sex marriage". CNN U.S. 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ Michelle Dupler (2012-02-10). "Walla Walla Rep. Walsh's floor speech". The News Tribune. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "State Sen. Walsh says mandatory breaks for nurses can't work everywhere". The News Tribune. 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
- ^ "Washington state senator slammed for saying nurses 'play cards' for 'considerable amount of the day'". CNN. 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
- ^ "Washington state senator slammed for saying nurses 'play cards' for 'considerable amount of the day'". CNN. 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
- ^ "State senator slammed for saying nurses "play cards for a considerable amount of the day"". CBS News. 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
- ^ "Do nurses spend time 'playing cards'? Washington senator's remarks spark outrage". Tri-City Herald. 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
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