On January 9th our office returned to Olympia to start the 2017 Legislative session. Noha and I will continue working on issues that we heard about and worked on over last year. We know these issues are important for both the district and our state. We are grateful for the opportunity to represent you!
We hope you come to Olympia to come visit! Tours are available and we will do our best to step out or schedule time to connect with you while you are on campus. Please note that we along with many other legislators moved offices. We are still in the John L. O’Brien Building but in office #328. If you ever need any help in getting to Olympia, please let us know. We can help you figure out where you’re going, how to attend hearings on bills that are important to you, and secure translators or other accommodations as needed.
We also have a few remaining spots left for Pages. Being a page is a great opportunity for 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds from across the state to have a hands-on experience in government. If you know a young person who is interested in this opportunity, click here to learn more and to download an application. Don’t delay – spots fill up quickly!
What Repealing Obamacare might mean to you
Like many of you, my Democratic colleagues and I are concerned about the health care implications of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Congress has made it clear that some change is coming. Whether that means a full repeal, a partial repeal with some key provisions remaining, or a replacement, we don’t know. So far no replacement plan has been offer
 ed and no specific date has been set for taking action on the ACA. Until we know exactly what will happen, we don’t know how it will impact Washington residents who purchase plans through the Health Exchange or what it will mean for your insurance provider rates or services provided. What I can tell you is this: 780,000 Washingtonians will be affected by repealing the ACA, particularly the 180,000 who receive services through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. We have expanded Medicaid access to over 600,000 people in our state who, for the most part, were previously uninsured. And individuals who purchase their own health insurance or receive coverage through their employer plans have had free preventative care, better value, the ability to cover children up until the age of 26, and seen an end to the lifetime limits on their policies. That will almost certainly change if the ACA is repealed without a replacement that addresses those needs. In Washington, Democrats worked to ensure that Apple Health for Kids helped children get the health care they needed, even before the Affordable Care Act. I will continue to make sure that, no matter what Congress and the new president does in regards to your health care, Washington remains a place where someone can always get the care they need. |