On Monday, over 125 Washington CAN! members joined together in Olympia to fight back against the devastating budget cuts that are impacting our communities and families.

After we went over our current priorities in the Legislature (protecting health care, education and other essential programs from cuts, raising revenue and implementing the Basic Health Option in health care reform), we joined with hundreds of others from different organizations for a rally in support of revenue. Janice Tufte, Washington CAN! member spoke of her reliance on the Basic Health Plan and the need for our state to raise revenue so that we can protect the programs that make our communities healthy.

Following the rally, our members marched over to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee hearing where we PACKED the hearing room and also filled an overflow room with people in support of the Basic Health Option. Members held bright yellow signs that read “Basic Health Option: YES” and three of our members testified. Take a look at this one-pager which gives more information about the Basic Health Option and why it’s important for our communities.

Sharon Shaw, Main Street Alliance (MSA) member and small business owner in Pike’s Place Market talked about her current reliance on Basic Health and the importance of ensuring that there’s a Basic Health Option in health care reform. If she didn’t have Basic Health, private insurance would cost her more than her mortgage. Makini Howell, MSA member and owner of Plum Bistro talked about the struggle small businesses face in regards to affordable health care coverage and urged the committee to ensure that there are regulations in place to keep insurance companies from rigging the system.

The final testimonial came from Jaydra Cope, Washington CAN! member from Spokane. She traveled over 600 miles round-trip for the chance to testify in front of the committee and share her personal story. Jaydra’s younger brother tragically died at the age of 23 due to lack of access to affordable health care and she shared his story and urged the committee to implement a Basic Health Option in Washington so that nobody else has to lose their life because they can’t afford health insurance. Take a look at the video of Jaydra’s testimonial and the wonderful Spokesman Review article that highlights her story.

After the hearing, members went and met with their legislators. They asked legislators to raise revenue by making everyone pay their fair share, and to support the Basic Health Option. It was an exciting and empowering day and we’d like to thank all of our members who participated!

We also just got word that the Exchange Bill (including the Basic Health Option) passed out of committee today! This is GREAT news and is a testament to the power that people have when they join together. The fight’s not over yet though. It’s important to keep in touch with our Senators and urge them to support the Basic Health Option so that we ensure the bill passes out of the Senate. Take a moment to email your legislators now in support of the Basic Health Option.

Pictures will be uploaded to our Facebook page sometime this week, so make sure to take a look!

On Monday, February 20th we’ll be heading to Olympia for our annual lobby & action day. We hope you can join us!

Our state has cut $10 billion from education, health care and essential services over the past three years. Our families cannot endure anymore cuts.

Join us on February 20th as we continue raising awareness about the impact the budget cuts are having on our communities and put pressure on our legislature to do the right thing and make everyone pay their fair share.

Legislators have been in Olympia since the beginning of January, but have yet to begin discussions around the impending budget cuts. Once again, Basic Health, interpreter services, education, Disability Lifeline, Maternity Support Services and other crucial programs are facing elimination or drastic funding reductions. We need to ensure that our state raises revenue instead of cutting the programs and services that families, communities and the vulnerable in our state rely on.

The day will begin at 11am at Temple Beth Hatfiloh with an overview of the day and trainings. From there we’ll head to the Capitol Building where there will be a rally with allies, fun actions and visits with legislators.

Click here to register & join us!

In honor of black history month, we’ll also be raising awareness about how the budget cuts disproportionately impact communities of color and will be urging our lawmakers to stop passing all-cuts budget and restore equity to our tax structure. For more information and examples of how the budget cuts impact communities of color, read our report: Facing Race: How Budget Cuts Are Increasing Racial Disparities.

We won’t stop fighting until we have an economy that works for the 99% and a fair and just budget that doesn’t threaten the livelihood of our communities.