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WAC ADVOCACY ALERT
Volume 4, Issue 1
January 18, 2001
LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS: BUDGET PROBLEMS POSE THREAT TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE
The state legislative session began on January 8. This session promises to be an extremely difficult and contentious, as legislators face
the challenge of balancing the budget within the spending limits imposed Initiative 601.
Passed by the people by a narrow margin in 1993, I-601 imposes a spending limit which is allowed to grow on the basis of inflation and
general population growth. The problem is that the I-601 spending limit has not kept pace with the increased cost of state services. For
instance, health care costs for low-income persons, teachers and state employees are soaring at a rate of 14%, far exceeding the inflation
rate of 2-3%.
In addition, the numbers of prisoners, elderly and college students - groups that rely on state services - are increasing at a much faster rate
than general population growth. Health care cots, alone will add over $800 million to the state budget for 2001-03.
The Legislature and Governor will face the daunting task of dealing with state costs which will exceed the spending limit by about $1 billion,
just to maintain existing services and to pay for voter passed Initiatives such as I-732 (which will provide cost of living adjustments to
teachers). The state does have over $1 billion in reserves, but that money cannot be spent unless the spending limit is increased. The
questions about the I-601 spending limit and state spending will dominate this upcoming session, along with the issue of how to deal with
transportation funding.
In tough fiscal times, human services and housing programs are vulnerable to deep cuts or total elimination. In Governor Locke's proposed
2001-03 budget, human services programs are cut by over $170 million, a disproportionate share of the $270 million in total cuts. Some of
the most devastating cuts include:
˘ Medicaid Adult Dental - This program is eliminated except for the developmentally disabled and emergency care. Seniors and parents will
no longer be able to get dental care, including dentures.
˘ Medicaid Vision - Adults on Medicaid will not longer be able to get vision checkups or glasses, as this program is eliminated.
˘ Chore Services - This program is eliminated. Over 400 seniors and disabled persons will no longer get help with personal care or
household tasks. Some may end up in nursing homes.
˘ Adult Day Health - This program is cut by 50%. A service that provides social activity, case management, nutrition to elder and disabled
persons. Most people receiving this service are in their 70s.
˘ Medically Indigent - This program reimburses hospitals for emergency care for indigent clients. This program was cut by $34 million.
˘Basic Health Plan - Premiums and co-pays for the Basic Health Plan, which covers the uninsured working poor, are increased by a total of
$2.3 million.
˘ Vocational programs in prisons - Vocational training programs for prisoners are eliminated. These programs are key to helping prisoners
transition to life outside the prison.
It is important to note that cuts in the Governor’s budget could have been even deeper, but the Governor’s budget raises the 601
spending limit by $500 Million. If the lid is not raised cuts to Human Services will be even deeper.
It’s not too late to register for Church Advocacy Day!!
Please check our website for registration information ( www.thewac.org
) or call 206– 625-9790.
TAKE FIVE (actions that take five minutes or less)
ISSUE: In the Governor’s State of the State address on Wednesday, January 10, the Governor referenced his cuts to human services as a
partial solution to fix the budget crisis. Human services have already been proposed for elimination. All human services are at risk this
year, because powerful forces are lobbying for this money to fund other priorities such as transportation. And, unlike other areas of the
budget, legislators have considerable discretion over how much to spend on these services to children and families.
We need to join our voices to demand that this budget crisis not be solved by taking away from our state’s most needy.
ACTION: Contact your state Senator and Representatives by phone or e-mail.
MESSAGE: “Please do not balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. We urge you to
protect the services for low-income children, their families, the elderly and the disabled in the budget for next
biennium.”
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS:
Leave a message for legislators or the Governor at the toll free hotline: 1(800) 562-6000.
Write to your legislators:
Representatives: PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Senators: PO Box 40482, Olympia, WA 98504-0482
Or E-mail them! -- E-mail addresses can be found on the State Legislative Home Page,
http://www.leg.wa.gov .
Sara Fleming Merten
Public Policy Associate
Washington Association Of Churches
419 Occidental Ave S., Ste 201
Seattle, WA 98104
(206)625-9790 (ph)
(206) 625-9791 (fax)
http://www.thewac.org
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