Weekly Legislative Updates

Legislative Update 9: Cuts to Healthcare

Patrick Sugrue
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Return to the #WashingtonForAll campaign landing page.

The most concerning items in the Senate budget are their proposed cuts:

The Senate proposal would reject our healthcare agreement for 2025-2027 and raise the employee portion of healthcare premiums from 15% to 20%. If we allow this to get through, we'll never get back to the 85/15 percent split.

Worse, their proposal doesn't just allow us to go back to the table to bargain again. It takes all bargaining rights away related to healthcare, from premiums to FSA to wellness incentives.

This is fewer furlough days than what was proposed by Governor Ferguson, but it would be damaging nonetheless.

  • Closing Rainier School but not Yakima Valley School

The Senate budget would close Rainier School, but not Yakima Valley School as was suggested by Governor Inslee and Ferguson in their proposals. This doesn't mean that Rainier is a lost cause and that Yakima Valley School is safe -- we need to keep pushing to save both. Find upcoming town halls and rallies to save these life-saving facilities here.

The one positive in the Senate budget is their revenue proposal: $6 billion in the 25-27 biennium, and $11 billion in 27-29.

Obviously it's not enough, and we won't settle for it if they're coming after our healthcare, but more revenue is needed to continue funding needed services. These are a good start.

Next, we'll see what the House proposes.

Here's What's Next

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Gardeners at the University of Washington calling for a #WashingtonforAll, not just the rich and protesting Governor Ferguson's proposed $63 million cuts to higher education funding.

The House was supposed to release their revenue proposal today, but now we're hearing it'll be coming out tomorrow.

Things will be moving fast from here on out:

  • Tomorrow, we'll have both the House and the Senate revenue proposals.
  • Monday the 24th we'll have both complete budget proposals.
  • Tuesday the 25th the House and Senate will have hearings on their budgets.
  • Thursday the 27th they will vote their budget bills out of committees
  • Saturday the 29th the Senate will vote on their budget
  • Monday the 31st the House will vote on their budget.

Over the next few weeks, the House and Senate will begin to reach a compromise between their two versions of the budget.

While they're doing that, we need to do everything we can to reach them.

How can we fight back?

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WFSE Local 948 members at the DSHS Everett CSO office making calls to the Legislative Hotline and filling out postcards during their lunch break on "Woofsie" Wednesday (*see stuffed animal on the table).

Phone banking coming soon

  • WFSE is setting up phone banks for members to call fellow members in important districts with budget writers and influential legislators. Details will be released soon.

Video action targeting key legislators

  • You can create a video now and either send it to WFSE using the instructions below or tag @senjunerobinson directly on Instagram and use the hashtag #WashingtonForAll. Robinson is the chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee. We'll be adding information to our landing page with more priority legislators we'll need to tag on social media soon.


Getting Loud in Priority Town Halls

  • We're attending our priority town halls, and asking tough questions to legislators face to face. These are incredibly effective. A handful of members can make a huge difference.

Additionally, several WFSE locals are planning a rally at the capitol on April 9th, and an RSVP link with details is forthcoming.

If you haven't contacted your elected official yet -- do it today!

Upcoming In-Person Events

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Find video interviews, campaign resources and documents on our landing page.