WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Mary Helen Roberts’ e-newsletter for Feb. 25, 2013

Last week the Legislature celebrated Children’s Day, a yearly tradition in the House of Representatives that usually coincides with the Presidents’ Day holiday. With many children out of school for the holiday, we invite them to join us as we recognize the special place children hold in our communities, and the hopes and dreams they symbolize for a better future. That future depends on the work we do here in the Legislature, and Children’s Day reminds us that every decision we make affects future generations.

If you haven’t already seen it, check out the photos from Children’s Day on our House Democrats blog and our Facebook page.


SnohoCouncilAging

Constituents representing the Snohomish County Council on Aging during Senior Services Lobby Day.


Our paramount duty

Education is the number one issue this year. Our primary task this session is to determine how to adequately fund our public schools in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling that we are not meeting our paramount duty.

As a citizen, I believe every child deserves a good education and a fair shot at the “American Dream.” As a lawmaker, education is important to me because it is the engine that drives our state’s economy. Secure families and a strong middle class depend on the next generation getting the education they need to compete in a global economy. A quality higher education system bring employers to our state that provide family wage jobs.

You may have heard of the Senate Republican’s plan to “Fund Education First,” which means passing a separate education budget. Every other vital state service, including higher ed, economic development, and foster care, must for what’s left. A better name for this plan is an “All Cuts Budget.”

Over the last four years, we’ve cut $12 billion in services and laid off 4,500 teachers and school employees. Cutting even more services for the sick, hungry and homeless isn’t the answer. It’s not compassionate and it’s not smart.

There are 27,000 homeless students in our state and I’m not giving up on those kids, nor those who get free and reduced lunches or depend on us for their health care. Sick, hungry and homeless kids can’t learn. Every child deserves a chance.

For a good look at this issue from the perspective of a teacher who is also a new lawmaker, read ‘Opportunity for all’ by Rep. Steve Bergquist.


Giving kids the best start in life

classroom

Our state is a recognized early learning leader.  We understand the critical importance of a child’s earliest years in terms of brain development and later academic success. Research has shown that 85 percent of brain development occurs by age three, and 92 percent by age five. When a child enters Kindergarten, the vast majority of brain development has already taken place.

This means the earlier we focus our early learning efforts the better. Why not start at birth?

One bill under consideration would do just that. The goal is to help parents and caregivers give children the best possible start in life, and ensure each child is ready to enters Kindergarten. Called the “Early Start” proposal, the bill would:

  • Build a high quality birth-to-five continuum of services over time.  We’ve been directing our state’s early learning efforts mainly at pre-K programs for three- and four-year-olds.  Early Start would encompass everything from home visiting services to preschool, culminating with the WaKIDS Kindergarten assessment.
  • Carefully target resources on strategies that yield high results and give us the best bang for our buck.
  • Blend our already-existing programs – including parent education, the Early Child Education Program and the Working Connections Child Care program – to provide high-quality, all-day early learning opportunities for low-income children, and improve the quality of care for all children.
  • Include an expansion of home visiting services for parents facing serious challenges, to help them get their children off to the best possible start.  Home visiting programs have been shown to cut incidences of child abuse and neglect in half.

A related, complementary bill would expand the Working Connections Child Care program, which helps low-income parents who are working or actively seeking employment afford child care. It would also help improve access to early learning programs offered by many childcare providers, so children would have opportunities for learning versus simply “child care.” 


What the Affordable Care Act means for our state’s small businesses

stetoscope

Change is on the way as our state takes the necessary steps to fully implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Getting our health care exchange approved so that it’s up and running on time is not only the fiscally responsible thing to do, it is also the right thing to do for families, businesses and public health.

All the changes can get a little confusing, especially those that affect small businesses (defined as businesses with less than 50 employees). The office of the state Insurance Commissioner has outlined what reforms have already gone into effect and what we can expect in coming years.

ACA reforms already in place:

  • Tax credits of 35 percent if you offer health insurance, have fewer than 25 full-time workers, and you pay an average annual wage of $50,000.
  • In 2014, that tax credit goes up to 50 percent.

What’s coming in 2014:

  • If you have fewer than 50 employees, you’re not required to offer them health insurance. However, if you choose to offer health insurance, you could qualify for a tax rebate.
  • All health plans must cover essential benefits.
  • You can shop online for coverage through Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange and enjoy greater purchasing power, similar to large employers.

For a complete list of what health care reform means for individuals, families, seniors and large businesses, please visit Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s web page on health care reform.


21st District tele-town hall next Tuesday

On Tuesday, February 26th at 6:15 pm I will be having my first tele-townhall within the new boundaries of the 21st District. If you are a voter in the 21st, you should be getting a phone call from me inviting you to participate. I look forward to discussing the issues that are important to you.  


Bill Update

My bill (HB 1338) concerning juveniles sentenced to life without parole is scheduled to be voted out of committee this afternoon. To become more familiar with the issue, you are welcome to read a guest column in Saturday’s Everett Herald: Give juvenile offenders a chance at redemption. I got together with Rev. Paul Benz, Co-Director of Faith Action Network, and Sr. Sharon Park, Executive Director of the Washington State Catholic Conference, to write this opinion piece on why we must take a closer look at the way Washington‘s children are treated in our criminal justice system.

Sincerely,

ROBERTSSIG