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WAC ADVOCACY ALERT
FEBRUARY 9, 2001
Washington Has an Opportunity to Expand CHIP to all Eligible Kids and Their Parents; Legislature must Act to
Appropriate Funds
In 1999, the Washington State Legislature authorized state funds to enact the Federal Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
For each $1 appropriated for CHIP the state draws down about $3.
This program provides health coverage to uninsured Washington children who live in families under the 250% Federal Poverty
Level. State estimates show that there are about 15,000 children eligible for CHIP. Since the program began, the state has
engaged in an outreach campaign to enroll all eligible kids. So far, CHIP has about 3,200 children and continues to enroll
about 300 kids per month.
Because we have not yet reached all eligible children, Washington State has been accruing a surplus of federal CHIP money.
Currently, we have about $141 million unspent CHIP funds.
We have an opportunity to utilize these unspent, surplus federal CHIP funds to provide health coverage to all eligible kids as well
as their uninsured parents. According to state estimates, there are 110,000 uninsured Washington parents whose kids are
eligible for CHIP who could be covered with an expanded CHIP program.
But, in order to take advantage of this opportunity to drawn down federal CHIP funds and utilize surplus CHIP dollars to cover
uninsured parents and their children - we must continue to provide state CHIP funds to cover increased enrollment and
program costs.
This means that the state needs to allocate $3.5 million above what was in the Governor’s Budget for CHIP. If not, the program
would be capped at approximately 5,000 children AND we lose the opportunity to expand CHIP to parents and to utilize $141
million in surplus funds. For more information on CHIP contact the Children’s Alliance at 206-324-0340
TAKE FIVE
ISSUE: For over 10 years, the state Housing Trust Fund has helped create and preserve tens of thousands of homes across
the state. The fund responds to a variety of housing needs including housing for low-income families, people with
developmental disabilities, and victims of domestic violence. Along the way, the Housing Trust Fund has leveraged over $1.2
billion in other public and private investments.
With a great track record of success and a growing need for more low cost housing, the Housing Trust Fund should be
increased rather than decreased as proposed in Governor Locke's budget proposal for the next two years. Two years ago, $78
million in capital funds were approved by the Legislature for low income housing. In contrast, the Governor's budget proposal
this year recommends only $63 million for low income housing. One recent estimate of housing needs in the state found that
56,000 housing units are needed just to house farm workers and their children.
ACTION: Contact your legislator and ask that they "Please support a restoration of $15 million for the Housing Trust Fund (the
Governor's budget included this cut) for a total funding of at least $78 million in the capital budget. This would provide funding
for housing for low income families, people with developmental disabilities, and victims of domestic violence."
LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE: 1 (800) 562-6000
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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