|
WAC ADVOCACY ALERT
March 8, 2002
MARCH MADNESS
"March madness" isn't only about basketball tournaments. It is also the time when the
Legislature in Olympia is trying to balance a budget in a $1.6 billion abyss. The budget
process started last December with the governor's budget proposal. His was the starting
point and had cuts of $566 million, including the elimination of the Women Infants and
Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Program, and other vital human services programs.
Now comes the dueling budgets of Senate and House. First came the Senate 2002
Supplemental Budget which was released on March 5. Human services advocates saw
some sunshine in that proposal . While the Senate Budget made some deep cuts in human
services, they were much less than the budget the Governor Locke proposed in December.
The Senate budget restored cuts to the WIC Farmers' Market program, the adult dental
program, and nursing homes.
But there were concerns about some cuts in other areas. One
of the biggest concerns with the Senate budget, is a proposal to end state-funded medical
assistance for approximately 27,000 immigrant children and adults. These children and
adults would be "provided opportunities" to enroll in the subsidized Basic Health Plan (BHP).
But the BHP doesn't provide dental and vision care, plus it requires recipient cost-sharing,
i.e. co-pays, premiums, and partial paying of prescription drugs. There is the very serious
concern that many low-income immigrants would be lost in the shuffle, fall through the cracks
and lose health coverage. You can view the details on the Senate Budget on-line at
http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2002/senate_prop_os2.asp
The House Budget was released Thursday, March 7th. This budget included much
deeper cuts to human services, $60 million more. Overall, this budget is viewed by Social
Service advocates as "disastrous for low-income adults and children." Some of the worst
provisions in this budget proposal include an $11 million cut to the medically indigent
program, $17 million cut to the General-Assistance Unemployable program, the elimination
of vital prevention programs for children and families including a cut of $1.7 Million for
Continuum of Care (child abuse prevention); $800,000 from the Juvenile Violence
Prevention, and $1.1 Million from the Public Health Nurses. In addition, funds that have been
going to local public health districts to make up for revenue lost as a result of Initiative-695
were cut in the House Budget. This funding for public health provides a backbone of support
for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Details on
the House Budget can be found on-line at
http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/opr/app/02/BudgRpt.htm.
Both the Senate and House budget blueprints hinge on a controversial quick fix money
infusion scheme, known as "securitization" which is a way to receive an advance on the
tobacco settlement dollars through the sale of bonds. They also both rely on an expansion of
gambling as a revenue source.
Human services advocates have made it very clear that they are willing to work with the
legislators to lessen the impact of any budget on services to the most vulnerable.
However, services for the poor, children, elderly, the disabled are already inadequately
funded and any more cuts would increase the suffering. It is clear that the solutions to our
$1.6 Billion budget problem outlined in both the Senate and House Budgets are short-term
solutions. We must begin to enact serious tax reform, in order, to provide the revenues
necessary to adequately fund human services, K-12 Education, Higher Education and
Transportation.
What's next? Senate and House negotiators will meet, argue and attempt to craft a
budget that can be passed by Senate and House. It won't be easy! Education, human
services, and public employees are all unhappy with aspects of each budget. The regular
session of the 2002 Legislature is scheduled to end next Thursday, March 14. It is likely that
there there will agreement on a budget plan by then. In that case, Governor Locke will call a
special session. Budget negotiators will stay in Olympia to try to put together a budget. Other
legislators will be called back to Olympia and a budget will be passed--eventually.
What does all this have to do with people of faith? Like we have said before in other
Alerts, Advocacy Days," As people of faith, we believe that we must prioritize the needs of
the vulnerable and the poor. Our budget should reflect those values."
TAKE FIVE:
Call your representatives and senator and tell them to please support a budget that
protects our state's vital social services for our most vulnerable. Call the toll free
Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000.
GOOD NEWS:
House Bill 1248 which ensures that workers who are separated from their jobs as a direct
result of domestic violence or stalking are eligible for unemployment compensation has
passed the both the House and Senate and goes to the governor for his signature.
Sara Merten Merten@thewac.org |
