The 2012 Legislative Session began on January 9th. Since we want our members involved and excited about the work we’re doing, we wanted to share our 2012 Legislative priorities with you. See below for a list of things we’ll be working towards this upcoming session. To read our Legislative Agenda in full, please click here.
Background:
Our state has already seen $10 billion in cuts to education, health care and social service programs in just the past three years. The proposed cuts this session would be devastating to working families, communities of color, and the most vulnerable in our state and would result in tens of thousands of jobs lost.
In Washington State corporations and the wealthy receive billions in tax exemptions and subsidies. It’s time for lawmakers to level the playing field and balance the costs and benefits of tax expenditures against other public priorities. By continuing to cut the programs that Washington residents rely on, we’re only hurting our state’s long-term recovery. We need to protect education, health care and social service programs so that our communities can thrive in these tough economic times.
2012 Legislative Priorities:
-Raise revenue while protecting existing health care programs. Large corporations who are directly responsible for our economic meltdown need to share in the sacrifice of fixing our economy.
-Fully Implement the Affordable Care Act:
- Strengthen the WA. Health Benefits Exchange by including specific mechanisms to protect consumers from insurance industry abuses and work towards eliminating racial disparities in health
- Protect the Basic Health Plan & Implement the Federal Basic Health Option, ensuring that Washington’s low-income families and currently uninsured families have affordable health care options
