State budget fully funds education, cuts property taxes
Dear friends and neighbors,
Exactly one week ago, the 2018 legislative session adjourned – on time! – in Olympia. It was a thrill to be with colleagues and staff on the House floor as the gavel came down on a busy but productive session.
During even-numbered years, state lawmakers pass a supplemental budget, making tweaks and corrections to the two-year budgets passed in odd-numbered years. For the 2018 supplemental budget, we had some good news in the form of a positive revenue forecast in February. Economists predict the state will take in an additional $647 million during the current two year budget cycle (2017-2019). Thanks to this extraordinary revenue growth, my colleagues and I voted for a budget that includes a one-time property tax cut to the tune of $391 million. We were able to do this and also leave healthy reserves in our rainy day fund for future emergencies, such as wildfires and unexpected economic downturns. Read below for more details on the investments made in this budget.
While I’m glad we cut property taxes – which especially helps working families and people on fixed incomes – I’m disappointed we didn’t provide long-term property tax relief with a capital gains excise tax. The proposal I favored, put forth by Democrats, would have impacted just 5,000 of Washington’s highest-income taxpayers – less than one-half of one percent of taxpayers in our state – versus the millions of taxpayers hit with increased property taxes this year. It even included a referendum clause, so the voters could have the final say on whether a capital gains excise tax on the very wealthiest Washingtonians is worth billions in long-term property tax reductions for everyone. It’s an idea I’ve pushed since my first year in the Legislature, and I will continue to champion it going forward. It would be a huge step toward making our tax structure more fair.
Sincerely,
K-12 education fully funded, at last
The 2018 session finally, at long last, closes the “McCleary” chapter in our state. As of this year, the Legislature will be meeting its constitutional and moral obligation to fully fund our K-12 schools. While the state Supreme Court agreed with the funding plan lawmakers came up with in 2017, they wanted teacher salaries fully phased in this year. It was the last piece of the puzzle needed to satisfy the Court, and I am so pleased it was included in this supplemental budget. Additionally, the budget invests more funding for special education, and addresses an issue with teacher pay discrepancy among some neighboring districts. Basically, certain districts have a tougher time attracting and keeping teachers because those same teachers can earn more doing the same job in the next district over. We tried to fix that issue last year, and this year we’ve perfected it even more. Likewise, last year’s solutions had a particularly negative impact on the Tacoma School District. These challenges were not clear when lawmakers passed the funding mechanisms last year, but became evident as we examined impacts last interim. I’m pleased we addressed these issues so our schools here in Tacoma and across the state will have the funding they need.
One of the reasons I went into public service is because I wanted to make sure our public schools have the funds they need to provide an outstanding education to every child. When I first came to the Legislature, my son was in elementary school. He’s now in high school, and I’m so glad I can tell him legislators lived up to their responsibility to him and the other 1.1 million school kids.
Mental health, safety net, college financial aid get boosts in budget
In addition to the nearly $1 billion in K-12 education investments and the property tax cut, the 2018 supplemental budget gives a boost to areas that will help families across our state:
- Over the next four years, the state is investing $306 million more to improve mental health treatment in both state hospitals and community treatment centers. This will have an enormous impact on patients, families, and communities.
- The state is restoring the amount of temporary cash assistance for families in extreme need, which was cut during the Great Recession. The new funding brings the grant amounts to above pre-recession levels, strengthening the safety net.
- The state is expanding access to higher education by phasing out the wait list for the State Need Grant, which provides financial aid to students from families with low incomes. Over the next year, an additional 4600 students statewide who would otherwise need to incur debt or forgo college due to lack of funds will be able to access this aid.
One of the things I’ve learned in my eight years serving in the Legislature is that no budget is ever perfect, but this one is pretty close. Now that session is over, you’ll see me all over Tacoma in the next few months. Please don’t hesitate to come up and chat with me, and let me know what’s on your mind. Or, better yet, call my district office to schedule a meeting with me.
Ordinary Washingtonians can change laws, make a difference
One of my favorite videos I try to record each year is interviews with regular, everyday Washingtonians who come to the state capitol to attend bill signings – when the governor signs a bill into a law. Many of these people have worked hard to push for changes in our laws to help make Washington a better, safer place for everyone. Click the videoabove to watch this year’s interviews, taped on March 9.
High school seniors: Apply to attend first-ever STEM Signing Day!
In recent years, the Legislature has made significant investments in STEM education, to help increase the number of STEM graduates from Washington’s colleges and technical schools. That’s why I want to make students in our district aware of the first-ever Washington State STEM Signing Day 2018. All Washington high school seniors who plan to pursue a STEM degree or career are eligible to apply.
Just like signing days for athletes, the inaugural Washington State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Signing Day will celebrate high school seniors from across the state as they make their commitments to continuing education programs focusing on STEM.
Date: Monday, April 23, 2018
Location: Museum of Flight, 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
Time: 11:00AM- 1:30PM
Applications must be submitted by March 23, 2018. For more information and to apply, click here.
An update from Rep. Laurie Jinkins: Day 60
Dear friends and neighbors,
Today is Day 60, the final day of the 2018 legislative session. The House has passed the final supplemental budget, and the Senate will do so some time today too, sending it to the governor’s desk for signature. While we still have a few hours to go, I can tell you that the final budget puts families first, investing in things like teacher pay, mental health care, and strengthening our safety net. It also provides a property tax cut to homeowners across the state. I’ll provide more detailed budget information in my next e-newsletter.
In the meantime, here are a few noteworthy bills that have made it through the process and have either been signed by the governor or will be signed in the coming days and weeks.
It’s an honor to serve you, and I look forward to being back in our district after today. I plan to once again hold a few community conversation hours around Tacoma, so stay tuned for more information about specific dates, times, and locations.
Sincerely,
Governor signs bump stock ban into law
Last December, I wrote a piece for Tacoma Weekly about legislation to address gun violence and help keep our communities safer. I had hoped lawmakers could come together in a bipartisan fashion in 2018 and close the so-called “machine gun loophole” in our state by banning bump stocks. Bump stocks turn a semi-automatic weapon into one that is essentially a fully automatic one. They are what the shooter in Las Vegas used last October to kill 58 people and injure hundreds of others.
On Tuesday, Governor Inslee signed a bump stock ban into law. It makes the manufacture or sale of bump stocks illegal in Washington state as of July 1, 2018, and the possession of bump stocks illegal as of July 1, 2019. The bill received bipartisan support in both chambers. You can view my speech from the House floor on final passage of the bill by clicking here.
Conversion therapy ban passes
Last week, Senate Bill 5722 passed. It bans conversion therapy in Washington state, a harmful and discredited practice which attempts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, often through verbal or physical torture.
Medical professionals and mental health experts reject this outdated practice that is based on the false premise that identifying as LGBTQ is a mental illness. They emphasize that conversion therapy does not work; rather, research shows that these practices can pose dangerous health risks to patients. The American Psychological Association has called for an end to this practice.
LGBTQ youth are already at increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide. It is time to start supporting and valuing our LGBTQ youth for who they are. This bill will ensure they feel safe and cut down on the pressures they currently face in the process of self-identification. Our children deserve to grow up loved for who they are, not punished.
Civil legal aid bill heads to governor’s desk
Last week the Senate voted 48-0 to pass House Bill 2308, my bill expanding the areas of authorized representation for state funded legal aid. This follows a vote of 86-12 in the House. Passage and signature into law will ensure that scarce civil legal funding will be used to address the most prevalent civil legal problems experienced by people with low incomes in our state.
This represents another step forward in furthering our state’s commitment to civil justice for all. I had the opportunity to discuss the bill on TVW’s Inside Olympia last week.
A more inclusive, age-friendly Pierce County
I’ve been invited to speak at a March 17 town hall on LGBTQ aging in Pierce County. I’m excited to talk about the legislative perspective and policy trends affecting older adults. The event is free but you can RSVP here. I hope to see you there as we discuss a more inclusive and age-friendly Pierce County.
SB 6617: I heard you loud and clear
SB 6617 has been vetoed. I support the veto.
I want to thank all of you who reached out to me and let me know your disappointment in my vote for SB 6617. The bill opened up legislative calendars, all correspondence between lawmakers and lobbyists, and final decisions of investigations and disciplinary proceedings. While I still think the policy has merit, I really missed the mark by voting for a bill this significant without insisting it go through the typical legislative processes. Your emails and voicemails convinced me the process was so flawed that we need to start over.
You were right. Your feedback taught me that diverse constituent input is absolutely necessary to make sure our democracy works.That’s why I joined dozens of House Democrats who asked the Governor to veto the bill yesterday. We need a do-over. And fortunately, we will have one.
There is an ongoing legal challenge on this issue. The case is still in appeal and I will push for the Supreme Court to rule on the issue because I believe the analysis applied by the Superior Court is not legally defensible. That said, I am pleased that the House will begin a public process engaging legislators, open government advocates, representatives of the news media, the Governor’s office, Office of the Attorney General and state archivist over the next nine months to make recommendations on legislative records to the 2019 Legislature.
In the meantime, I am going to work with my office to voluntarily provide the records the bill would have required.
Thank you again for holding me accountable and for making the Legislature more open to the people it serves.
Sincerely,
It’s cutoff time in the state legislature
Dear friends and neighbors,
We’ve reached the point in the legislative session known as “cutoff.” Last week was the first legislative cutoff of this short 60-day session – policy committee cutoff. Bills not passed out of policy committees by last Friday are dead (not moving forward) this year, unless they’re directly related to the budget. February 6th was the next deadline – fiscal cutoff – for bills to pass out of the fiscal committees.
Our office is working hard to advance important bills before the various deadlines. These cutoffs are essential for the effective operation of the legislature, but make for a fast-paced, often tense period for legislators, lobbyists, and the citizens we represent who closely watch if their bills pass or die.
Below are details of some major pieces of legislation recently voted off the House floor or advanced out of a committee. At this point, these bills are still “alive” in the process.
I look forward to answering your questions about these and other topics at the 27th Legislative District Town Hall on Saturday, February 17th. See below for time, location, and other important information about the event. I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Save the date: Town hall meeting
Join Rep. Jake Fey, Sen. Jeannie Darneille and me for a 27th Legislative District Town Hall Meeting
Date: Saturday, Feb. 17th
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
(check-in starts at 9:30 a.m.)
Location: Evergreen State College – Tacoma campus
1210 6th Ave, Tacoma 98405
A solution for our state’s looming long-term care crisis
Every day, an average of 10,000 people across our nation turn 65, a pace that will continue for the next two decades. Yet here in Washington state, long-term care continues to be inaccessible and unaffordable for too many people.
That’s why I sponsored House Bill 2533, a bipartisan solution called the Long-Term Care Trust Act. It creates a long-term care insurance benefit to help seniors and their families pay for long-term care services and supports. Funds from a one-half of one percent payroll deduction on all workers would be distributed through a program overseen by a public-private commission. Coverage could be used with any certified provider including in-home care aides, adult family homes, assisted living, or skilled-nursing facilities.
I recently wrote a piece for Tacoma Weekly about the bill and how it would work.
Keeping up with increased needs in child welfare
From 2010 to 2016, calls made to child protective services (CPS) increased 42%. Most of the increase is due to the opioid epidemic rippling through every corner of our state. We are working on addressing this epidemic in other legislation, but we also need to address the increased workload in other areas.
Under the current state budgeting process, even when calls to CPS increase, funding remains the same. The funding for the extra workload ends up coming out of other areas, making it hard to provide consistent services to our most vulnerable children. This is not how it works for other, similar programs like adult protective services.
That’s why I co-sponsored House Bill 2008, which the House passed this week.It will ensure the services we provide to children are driven by the actual need, not by current funding levels.Car tab relief bill passes House
Car tab relief bill passes House
After ST3 passed to expand light rail to Tacoma, many of you reached out to me, shocked about the increased cost of car tabs. For many working families, that increase is a major burden.
Our region needs to move forward with light rail and it’s important we uphold the projects that voters approved when ST3 passed. But we shouldn’t be taxing people unfairly. ST3 uses what is called the “1996 MVET” to assess car value and it is widely seen as unfair because it overvalues vehicles. We have a better valuation schedule, called the “2006 MVET” that is more fair and accurate, and closely tracks with Kelley Blue Book values.
I voted yes on a bill (HB 2201) that moves to the 2006 MVET. It was the only bill to have bipartisan support and also keep light rail projects on track, while still returning $780 million to taxpayers. It is now under consideration in the Senate.
E-newsletter: Getting the job done
Dear friends and neighbors,
We are already in Week 3 of the 2018 legislative session, and things are moving quickly. Democrats are delivering for Washington families by passing bills that put people first. Below are details of some of the major pieces of legislation that have been voted off the House floor over the last couple of weeks.
I’m also speaking up both in and out of the legislature about addressing sexual harassment. On the House floor I reminded my colleagues that TIME’S UP; we need to make sexual harassment on the capitol campus a thing of the past. It’s hard for lawmakers to exercise leadership anywhere in the state of Washington unless we also exercise it within the halls and offices of this campus. That’s why I’m pleased the House voted to create a bipartisan, bicameral panel to improve sexual harassment prevention and policies, and I look forward to reporting back to you on its progress.
Finally, I was thrilled to speak again at the Olympia Women+ Rally on Saturday, January 20th. My remarks were primarily about intersectionality – that the rights and issues of all marginalized communities are interwoven, and standing with one means we should stand with all. It was great to see so many people standing together.
Sincerely,
Capital budget passes; funds Tacoma projects
Last week’s passage of the state’s $4 billion capital construction budget is great news for Tacoma, where previously-stalled projects can now move forward.This budget funds critical fixes to our state’s mental health system, including more beds at community-based treatment centers, and supportive housing for people with chronic mental illness. Additionally, many community organizations and services – from the Eastside Community Center to Tacoma Community House to our historic theater district – receive grants from the capital budget to expand or renovate, so they can meet the needs of Tacoma’s growing population. I couldn’t be happier that the funding is finally on its way to these projects.
The budget also puts a record $1 billion into building public schools and more than $800 million to build facilities at public colleges and universities, including UW Tacoma and Bates Technical College.
Click here for a list of projects funded in every district across the state (click on “Projects in Legislative District 27” for Tacoma projects).
Guaranteed breaks for nurses, safety for patients
In a win for both workers and patients, the House passed legislation guaranteeing uninterrupted meal and rest breaks for certain health care workers like nurses. There’s a reason nursing is considered one of the most trusted professions, and this bill is meant to keep it that way. Unfortunately, right now too many nurses are working too many hours without breaks, putting patient safety at risk. This bill will address burnout and fatigue in the profession, while giving patients more peace of mind.
Breakfast after the bell
A student has one job when she enters the classroom each morning: to learn. Yet day after day, students across our state – including right here in Tacoma – are showing up to school hungry. Hungry kids can’t focus on learning, and that’s why making sure no child starts the school day on an empty stomach is critical to boosting academic achievement.
One of the first bills passed by the House this session was HB 1508, which expands programs that provide students from low-income families with meals in the morning. These programs have proven to be highly successful in improving academic outcomes for kids.
Equal Pay bill heads to Senate
For the fourth year in a row (and hopefully for the final time), the House sent an Equal Pay bill to the Senate. This historic measure updates the Washington State Equal Pay Act for the first time since 1943.
You’ve probably heard that, on average, a woman makes around 80 cents to a man’s dollar for the same work. This wage gap is real and it’s not just hurting women. It affects entire communities because women are either the sole or primary breadwinners in over 40 percent of families with kids.
The Equal Pay Opportunity Act will empower women and reaffirm Washington’s longstanding pursuit of equality in the workplace. Details of the bill include banning pay secrecy policies, allowing discussion of wages, and prohibiting retaliation against workers for discussing their pay, or for asking for equal pay and opportunities.
I was proud to give my shortest speech ever on the House floor in support of this bill.
Save the date: Town Hall meeting
27th Legislative District Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, Feb. 17th
10 a.m. to noon
(check-in starts at 9:30 a.m.)
Evergreen State College – Tacoma campus
1210 6th Ave, Tacoma 98405
E-newsletter: The 2018 legislative session is underway
Dear friends and neighbors,
The 2018 legislative session began this week in Olympia. I’ve returned to our state capitol energized after meeting with so many of you during the interim – at our constituent conversation hours, at my drop-in office hours at locations around town, at neighborhood council meetings, and at festivals and events around Tacoma. Hearing from you at these events helped prepare me for what looks to be a whirlwind session – or, given last week’s winter storms on the east coast, a bomb cyclone!
This year’s session is scheduled to last 60 days. The ideas you shared with me over the past several months helped me come up with my legislative priorities for this year. I will be sponsoring numerous bills on a variety of issues. These include: price gouging by pharmaceutical companies, funding long-term care services and supports, ensuring patients are protected in hospital mergers, requiring background checks for assault weapons be at least as strong as those for pistols, and preventing child abuse and neglect, among others. My objective in sponsoring these bills is protecting the most vulnerable and supporting safe and thriving communities.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Welcome, Ann and Mitch!
Some of you may have already met my legislative assistant, Ann Dasch. Ann did a stellar job holding down the district office this interim, and she’ll continue to keep me on track this session in Olympia. Please contact her for any scheduling or appointment requests at ann.dasch@leg.wa.gov. or 360-786-7930.
My intern this session is Mitch Aman. Mitch attends the University of Washington in Seattle and will be graduating in March with a double major in Political Science and Law, Societies, and Justice (LSJ).
Education funding work continues
Over the last few years, Democrats have led the way on increasing the state’s education budget by more than $13 billion. This is an extraordinary accomplishment, especially since we had to work with a Republican-controlled Senate that was reluctant to raising new revenue.
This new funding has decreased class sizes, paid for textbooks and supplies, ensured that schools have the funds they need to keep the lights on, and increased salaries for beginning teachers. As the funding plan rolls out over the next few years, we’ll continue ro ensure every child has the opportunities to learn that they deserve.
Last fall, in a 9-0 decision, the state Supreme Court ruled that, with the 2017 education funding plan, the state will finally be adequately funding education.
However, they did have one objection to the plan: the timeline, which phases in school employee salary changes over three years. The Court wants those changes phased in over two years. While their intent is a good one, there are too many technical and implementation challenges preventing a quicker timeline. But I am committed to working with my colleagues on a solution that satisfies the Court.
I also want to acknowledge the challenges particular to Tacoma public schools with the new funding plan. During the interim, I heard from concerned school officials and education advocates, and I want to assure you that I’ll be paying close attention to how the plan affects local school budgets.
January 20: Women+ March on Olympia
Last year, I wore my rainbow cat ears hat to the Women’s March in Olympia, where I was a featured speaker. I’ll be speaking again at this year’s event on January 20th. For me, this event is about standing up for all disenfranchised groups, including communities of color, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, immigrant and refugee communities, and victims of sexual harassment and assault.
Of all the work I’ve done in the Legislature, one of the things I’ve been most proud of is pushing back against discrimination and protecting people’s civil rights. This includes the historic win for marriage equality in our state, and continues today with legislation to close the gender wage gap and protect the religious freedom of every Washingtonian. I hope to march alongside many of you on January 20th in support of these ideals.
Submit your comments on Naval Reserve Center Tacoma before Feb. 5th
The state Department of Ecology invites the public to comment on the removal of the Naval Reserve Center Tacoma from the state’s Hazardous Sites list. The public comment period runs through February 5, 2018. More info can be found here.
November update from Rep. Laurie Jinkins
Dear friends and neighbors,
This is Committee Assembly week in Olympia, which is when House and Senate committees meet to discuss priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
The House Judiciary committee, which I chair, is holding a work session tomorrow on three topics:
- A review of firearms types and Washington firearms laws. As we consider legislation related to gun violence, It’s important that lawmakers understand both the difference between pistols, rifles, semi-automatic guns and other types of firearms, and the difference in the way each are currently regulated in the state of Washington.
- A discussion on civil property forfeiture, which is the seizure of private property (including cash, cars, homes, etc.) by law enforcement when it is believed the property is involved in a crime. Sometimes, law enforcement does not end up filing charges even though it has seized the property. The burden is then on the property owner to go before a judge to get the property back. This is difficult to do without hiring an attorney, but the fees for hiring an attorney can sometimes exceed the value of the property.
- A discussion of how we might move legal disputes relating to the release of public records in a way that is less costly, less complex, and less time-consuming.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the recent election put Democrats in control of the state Senate. With the House also under Democratic control, this opens up the possibility to pass previously stalled legislation. I will be meeting soon with the new chairs of Senate committees that share jurisdiction with the Judiciary committee to discuss priorities for the 2018 legislative session.
Speaking of the upcoming session, if you know someone ages 14-16 who would be interested in being a legislative page, read below for information on how to apply. There is also a new scholarship available this year to help students and their families afford the incidental expenses of paging in Olympia.
Finally, I will be holding a few more drop-in office hours in neighborhoods around Tacoma this year, as well as one more Community Conversation event with my seatmates, Rep. Fey and Sen. Darneille. See below for dates and times. I hope to see you at one of these events.
Sincerely,
Sexual harassment in the legislature: Women say “enough”
A couple of weeks ago, I helped spearhead a letter to legislative leadership and members about the problem of sexual harassment and sexual assault in our state capitol. This problem affects women from both sides of the aisle and from all four caucuses, as well as staff and lobbyists. Innuendo, inappropriate jokes, unwelcome advances, groping, and assault have occurred on both sides of the aisle and within all four caucuses, as well as to staff and lobbyists, for too long. It is time for us to stand together and demand a change in the culture that has not been successful in at ending sexual harassment in this workplace.
Over 170 women signed the letter initially, and more continue to add their names. As someone who helped collect signatures, I admit I was astounded by the number of women who wanted to sign on. So far, I have learned that we cannot end sexual harassment with just a change to policy. It will take policy change, culture change, involvement of both women and men, and listening to victims if we are going to end this pervasive problem, as we all want to do. The problem of sexual harassment is complex, and so are the solutions.
I am committed to both changing our culture and to building a safe process for reporting harassment and inappropriate behavior. This is an area where we must lead the way, not look the other way.
New scholarship makes legislative page program accessible to all
The legislative page program allows students ages 14 -16 the opportunity to participate in state government by becoming an employee for one 40-hour workweek. Pages earn a stipend of $35/day and for many, it’s their first job. Applications are selected by senators and representatives from their home districts. Page school supplements the hands-on learning experience with a classroom component geared toward understanding the mechanics of lawmaking and civic involvement.
Every student should have the opportunity to apply to the program, but unfortunately for students from low-income households, financial barriers to participation exist. These barriers include the cost of travel to and from Olympia, and incidental expenses related to staying in Olympia for a full week such as housing, food, and attire. To provide more access to students, the Gina Grant Bull Memorial Legislative Page Scholarship was created in the 2017 legislative session. This scholarship honors the late Gina Grant Bull, who was a former page director for the House, and a longtime dedicated member of the legislative community. Gina valued every student in the page program and believed all youth should have the opportunity to serve. I believe this as well, and that’s why I’m pleased there is now a scholarship program to help those who would otherwise be unable to afford this unique educational experience.
If you know of a student who would be interested in applying for the Page Program, please share the application and scholarship form with them. Applications are being accepted now, and I invite you to send your application directly to me if you’re interested in serving this year.
Meet with me in your neighborhood
My final drop-in office hours for 2017 are scheduled for the following dates and times. Come meet with me in your neighborhood, no appointment necessary!
- Tuesday, 11/21 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at Dolce Si, 5005 Main Street, Suite 105, Ruston
- Tuesday, 12/5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Olive Branch Cafe, 2501 East D Street (in Freighthouse Square)
- Tuesday, 12/19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Savor, 1916 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma
There is also one final “Community Conversation” scheduled. This is your chance to sit down with Rep. Fey, Sen. Darneille and me and talk about issues of importance to our district. All are welcome. Mark your calendars for:
- Tuesday, 12/12 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Salishan (International Place Common Room), 1701 East 44th Street, Tacoma
October update from Rep. Laurie Jinkins
Dear friends and neighbors,
On Saturday, my 27th Legislative District seatmates and I held the first of three “Community Conversation Hours” in Tacoma.
Among the topics discussed were concerns over recent actions by President Trump detrimental to our health care system. I’m devoting this e-newsletter specifically to this issue, because it impacts so many of us.
If you couldn’t be there on Saturday, another Community Conversation is coming up this Thursday, October 19, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Red Elm Cafe, 1114 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma. We’ve reserved the meeting room in back.
Sen. Darneille, Rep. Fey and I will also be in the International Place Common Room at Salishan (1701 East 44th Street, Tacoma) on Tuesday, December 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
On my own, I’m continuing to hold informal, drop-in “office hours” in neighborhoods across the district. Upcoming dates, times, and locations are listed at the end of this newsletter. I hope to see you at one of these events, because now is the time to share your ideas about potential legislation with me.
Sincerely,
Trump’s assaults on health care hurt access, affordability
President Trump’s seemingly endless assaults on our nation’s health care system really kicked into overdrive last week. First, he announced new rules that threaten access to contraception (see below). Then, he signed an executive order that chips away at vital Affordable Care Act protections and threatens to collapse the health insurance market. Finally, he abruptly halted payment of health insurance subsidies, further destabilizing the market and guaranteeing premium hikes. These actions create stress and uncertainty for many individuals and families in our state.
While state legislators cannot prevent the President from taking these irresponsible actions, we can explore legislative solutions to minimize the harm and protect access to affordable health coverage for Washingtonians. For example, in the 2017 session, we took the important step of preserving access to the state’s high-risk insurance pool for non-Medicare plans. This ensures medically vulnerable populations will continue to have access to the care they need.
As a member of the House Health Care & Wellness committee, I am committed to working on ways to strengthen our state’s health care system, not undermine it.
Reproductive health access threatened
On October 6th, the Trump Administration took action that undermines access to contraception. Washington’s Attorney General moved quickly to sue to block the new rules from taking effect.
Protecting access to a full range of preventive care services, including reproductive health, is always a priority for me. I was proud to co-sponsor legislation this year requiring insurance plans to reimburse for a 12-month supply of contraceptive drugs. This common-sense legislation passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support. However, another bill I supported that would have required preventive care services currently covered under the ACA to remain covered in our state died in the Senate.
Senate leadership has also repeatedly refused to let the Reproductive Health Act receive a floor vote in that chamber. This bill would require health insurers to cover contraceptives without cost-sharing, and to cover voluntary pregnancy termination services if maternity care or services are covered. It has passed the House four times now.
I am concerned about any federal action that threatens access to reproductive health care in our state. That’s why I support the Attorney General’s lawsuit, and will continue working with my legislative colleagues on measures to protect access to ALL preventive health care.
Speaking of preventive care…
The number of reported pertussis (whooping cough) cases in our state is up this year. Now is a good time to make sure you – and your children – are up to date on your vaccines.
Medicare open enrollment period begins
The open enrollment for Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) and Medicare Advantage plans is currently underway. You have until December 7 to sign up or make changes to your existing coverage.
Free, in-person Medicare counseling is offered in Tacoma on Mondays by appointment at Sound Outreach, 1106 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. This service is through the state Insurance Commissioner’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefit Advisors (SHIBA). To make an appointment, call (253) 596-0918.
Meet me in your neighborhood
Much appreciation to the folks who took time out of their busy day to drop in and chat with me at Old Town Markee in North Tacoma on October 3rd. Here are my upcoming neighborhood office hours:
- Thursday, October 26th from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Erica Peace Love and Ice Cream, 4822 Pacific Ave (South End)
- Tuesday, October 31st from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Rhapsody in Bloom, 3709 6th Ave (Central Tacoma)
- Tuesday, November 7th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Coffee & Cream, 1100 Town Center NE (Browns Point)
September update from Rep. Laurie Jinkins
Dear friends and neighbors,
Fall is officially here as of tomorrow, but we’ve been bidding summer goodbye all week with the return of cooler temperatures and the arrival of (much-needed) rain in our region.
I am sorry to begin this newsletter on a tragic note, but last week every parent’s nightmare happened once again in our state when a student at Freeman High School in Spokane County brought two guns to school and successfully fired one of them, killing another student and wounding three others.
On the day of the shooting I happened to be in Spokane attending a health care conference. News of the shooting spread quickly in the community, and it hit all of us very hard. My heart immediately went out to the students, parents, and school employees affected by this horrible event. For me, when it comes to children dying from gun violence, thoughts and prayers alone are not enough. I remain committed to working together with my colleagues in the Legislature on solutions to help prevent these tragedies and keep ALL our children safe at school.
On a brighter note, fall brings with it a bounty of produce harvested from our local farms and gardens. I recently spent part of a Saturday touring some of the incredible community gardens and urban farms in our area. The beautiful flowers pictured above were in full bloom at the Tacoma Community College community garden. It was one of the most relaxing, rejuvenating, and inspiring days I’ve spent in a long time.
Sincerely,
Health tour: Successes and challenges in our rural communities
I recently participated in a two-day rural health tour with some of my House colleagues from both sides of the aisle, organized by the nonpartisan Office of Program Management. We visited hospitals and treatment centers in Kitsap and Mason counties and on the Olympic Peninsula. At each stop we were joined by community leaders, local public health officials and even members from the law enforcement community.
Three main themes emerged during this tour. One, our rural areas are really grappling with the opioid crisis, something which came up again and again. Two, delivery of mental health care remains a challenge. And three, there is a need for more primary care providers in our rural and underserved areas. My recent column in Tacoma Weekly discusses some of the steps taken this year by the Legislature to improve our mental health system so it serves patients and families better. I’m also very pleased we’ve increased funding in our state budget for mental health and public health, and we’ve accepted federal Medicaid funding that will go to help fight the opioid crisis, reduce homelessness rates, and integrate physical and behavioral health so we can treat the whole person.
We have more work to do, but the investments made this year are putting us on the right track.
My biggest takeaway from the tour was seeing how our rural communities are really pulling together, working across all sectors to address the health care challenges they face.
Projects around Tacoma anxiously await state capital budget dollars
Important construction and renovation projects in our district – from the Eastside Community Center to Tacoma Community House to our beautiful historic theater district – are still waiting for funding they’ve been promised from the state capital budget. Unfortunately, because Senate Republicans refused to pass that budget after multiple special sessions, these projects are now stalled or in danger of stalling. I continue to be hopeful that in the coming weeks we will be able to get this done. Click here or on the video image above to hear more info about what’s at stake in Tacoma without a state capital budget.
By the way, this Saturday, 9/23, a free community event celebrating construction of the new Eastside Community Center is happening from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. This project is a recipient of state capital budget dollars through the state Department of Commerce’s Local and Community Projects grant program. It’s one of the many reasons I was proud to join 96 of my House colleagues from both sides of the aisle in voting YES on the capital budget.
Meet me in the community
I’m offering a number of informal “office hours” out in the community between now and the end of the year, as well as more structured “community conversation hours” with my seatmates, Rep, Jake Fey and Sen. Jeannie Darneille. These events provide an opportunity for me to listen to your concerns and answer any questions you have about legislative topics and issues of importance to our district. Please come to one of the following events in October:
Drop-in office hours – come chat with me when I’m in your neighborhood!
- Tuesday, October 3rd, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Old Town Markee, 2312 N 30th St (North Tacoma)
- Thursday, October 26th, fro 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Erica Peace Love and Ice Cream, 4822 Pacific Ave (South End)
- Tuesday, October 31st from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Rhapsody in Bloom, 3709 6th Ave (Central Tacoma)
Community Conversation Hours – come meet with me, Rep. Fey and Sen. Darneille!
- Saturday, October 14th, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Black Kettle Bites and Brew, 744 Market Street, Suite 102B
- Thursday, October 19th, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., at Red Elm Café, 1114 MLK Jr Way (meeting room in back)
Additionally, TONIGHT, September 21st, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. is the NE Tacoma Neighborhood Council meeting at The Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave NE. I’ll provide a brief legislative update and take questions. The City of Tacoma will also be presenting on the proposed Tideflats Interim Regulations.
What I’ve been up to this summer
Dear friends and neighbors,
I’ve recently returned from attending the 2017 National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit, which was held in Boston this year.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that has been around since 1975. Its mission is to help state legislators and staff succeed in their work and ensure they have a strong and unified voice within our federal government. They also conduct nonpartisan research on issues relevant to state governments. In 2015, our state hosted the NCSL Legislative Summit in Seattle.
For me, attending a conference with other state legislators from both parties – especially in Boston, a city steeped in the history of our nation’s founding – was a tremendous honor and felt particularly important this year. My family joined me and it was an incredible experience to walk the Freedom Trail with our 17-year-old son and discuss the actions ordinary citizens took to stand up for freedom and liberty during our nation’s founding.
Our final keynote speaker of the conference was one of my favorite presidential historians, Doris Kearns Goodwin. She talked about the qualities shared by some of our nation’s greatest presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. These qualities include the ability to learn from mistakes and change position as necessary, the ability to control temper and emotion, and the ability to stay connected to the people they served.
Read on for some of the takeaways I got from the sessions I attended at the conference. I’m also following up on my promise to provide details of some of the cuts and efficiencies made in order to balance our state budget this year.
The opioid crisis: A public health problem requiring a public health solution
At the NCSL summit in Boston, I attended several sessions on the opioid crisis, which affects every state in our nation, including ours. It became clear to me that treating this problem simply as a law enforcement issue will be a failure. Instead, we have to treat it like a public health challenge. Tackling this epidemic successfully will require efforts on prevention, treatment and enforcement.
That’s why I’m pleased the state budget we passed this year invests an additional $12 million in public health over the previous budget, and secures over $1.5 billion in federal Medicaid waiver dollars, part of which will be used to fight the opioid crisis here in our state.
Balancing the state budget: Cuts and efficiencies
In my last e-newsletter, I covered the bipartisan compromise to fully fund our K-12 public schools through an increase in the state property tax, as well as some small steps on tax reform we took this year.
But I’m sometimes asked whether cuts and/or efficiencies were also considered in balancing the state budget. The answer is yes, and I’ve listed a few examples below.
It’s important to note that the Great Recession resulted in very large program reductions across state government in order to close shortfalls in the state budget. Any program considered not necessary was already eliminated during those years. So our approach this time was to look at program restructuring or other efforts to generate savings, as well as continued suspension of certain programs put on hold during the recession:
- We’re saving $12.7 million this biennium through changes in K-12 assessment requirements – providing more flexibility in high school graduation requirements.
- We’re saving $11.1 million this biennium by continuing to suspend smaller financial aid programs that have been suspended since 2011. Examples include the Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program, Washington Scholars, and the Washington Awards for Vocational Excellence programs.
- We’re saving $13.1 million by reducing management positions across the majority of state agencies by 6%.
- We’re saving $23.6 million by assuming certain areas that underspent funds in the last biennium will continue to do so in this one.
Get Involved: Work parties at local parks this week
Metro Parks Tacoma sponsors work parties at parks across the city where volunteers can help clean and improve our parks. This coming weekend, work parties are taking place at Point Defiance Beach, Oak Tree Park, McKinley Park, and Swan Creek Park. All ages welcome. Click here for more info.
Community Event: McKinley Hill Street Fair 8/19
The Tacoma Arts Commission and Bates Technical College are two sponsors of this year’s McKinley Hill Street Fair, a free community event taking place this Saturday, August 19th, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Vendors, food trucks, chalk art, live music and more. Click here for more info.