February 4, 2011
Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are finding these e-memos informative. Please feel free to forward them on to your friends and colleagues if you think they would also be interested in what’s happening in the Legislature. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in their government, so please contact me with any ideas, comments, or questions you might have.
Also, you can keep track of the daily highlights on the HDC blog, The Advance. Short summaries of important hearings, breaking news, and background information – it’s all there, and updated regularly. Check it out!
I am proud to tell you that I was recently elected by my House Democratic Caucus colleagues as Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore. The Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore, or active Speaker, is called upon to preside over sessions of the House when the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House are unable to attend.
I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to preside over this sacred institution, to ensure that all voices are heard and that the work of the people moves forward. Almost two years ago, in a rare occurrence, I was asked to preside as Speaker. It is very moving and humbling to see that my colleagues, who I respect and admire, are putting their trust in me once again by putting this gavel back in my hand.
It is both challenging and rewarding to take on this honorable responsibility, and I will do my best to preserve the dignity of this office by working in a manner that is both fair and respectful of all members and the people they represent.
Old, unwanted medications need safe disposal options
Did you know that Washington is one of 16 states where accidental poisonings have surpassed auto accidents to become the number one cause of accidental deaths? Even more troubling is that most accidental poisonings are from medications found in our own homes. Young children and pets sometimes get into old, unwanted medicines, but a growing number of teenagers are misusing prescription drugs – often with tragic consequences. Flushing old medicines down the toilet isn’t a solution either, since most wastewater treatment plants aren’t set up to filter out medications and they end up harming our water supply.
This week, a bill that would create a statewide program for the collection, transportation, and disposal of unwanted medications had a public hearing before the House Environment Committee. Some local jurisdictions already have drug “take back” programs, usually run and paid for by local law enforcement agencies. Under House Bill 1370, the drug companies would be the ones to pay for a streamlined, efficient take-back system, allowing law enforcement to focus on its core functions.
Looking out for patients, consumers
One of the fastest-growing parts of a budget – whether we’re talking about the state budget or your own budget – is health care and health insurance.
It’s important to keep insurance companies accountable for rate hikes, some of which have skyrocketed by double digits annually. Too many families are being priced out of health care, leaving them one accident away from bankruptcy or being forced to access care in the emergency room.
That’s why we’re working on a bill this year that would continue to allow the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner to review the rate changes proposed by insurers for individual health plans. Unless we act now, this authority will expire at the end of 2011, allowing insurance companies to jack up their rates as high as they want. The Insurance Commissioner is your elected watchdog of the insurance industry – he needs this tool to do his job.
Sincerely,
In This Issue
Secure Medicine Take-Back Bill
Contact
MAIL
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
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(360) 786-7834
1 (800) 562.6000 toll free
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EMAIL
tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov
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