A week and a half ago, the regular session of the Legislature ended. While the debate over the budget continues into the Special Session, we wanted to give you an update on what happened this session and point out some key victories.
As a grassroots advocacy organization, we show our power in multiple different ways. Whether it be through events at the Capitol, or generating calls, emails, or letters to legislators, we work with our members to make their voices heard. Due to the continued advocacy of our members, we had three crucial victories this session that deserve to be noted.
Victories:
- Washington State passed strong legislation to continue implementing health care reform this session. With the passage of this legislation, Washington state is ahead of the curve in implementing health care reform so that it puts the needs of consumers and small businesses ahead of insurance companies. Many of our members provided testimonies about the importance of affordable health care options and the need for a system that works for all Washingtonians. As we move forward with health care reform implementation, we’ll need to continue raising awareness about the importance of a Basic Health Option, which provides our state an opportunity to expand Washington’s current Basic Health Plan with federal dollars. Click here for more info. about the Basic Health Option.
- Our state also made big strides this year around access to dental care. A bill was brought to the Legislature that would increase access to routine and preventative dental care for adults and children in Washington. Although the bill didn’t make it through the Legislature, personal testimonies as well as emails and calls to legislators around the issue of dental access helped to pave the way for our fight next session
- Due to continued pressure and an emphasis by the community on the importance of making everyone pay their fair share, House Republicans now publicly support closing the corporate tax loophole for out of state banks
The 99% was there to greet Rmoney and let him and his supporters know what we think of the Rmoney agenda, which is of the 1%, by the 1% and for the 1%.
