Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It’s been a great summer so far, with lots of visits with local constituents, progress on Spokane projects, and just spending time in the community. I recently was able to attend El Mercadito, an outdoor cultural market, am planning some mobile offices with my seatmates, and even got to play in Hoopfest. It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the end of July and before we know it, kids will be back in school, and I’ll be preparing for next year’s legislative session.
Read on to find out more about the projects I supported in our state Capital Budget, reminders about the state Medicaid program, and details about our upcoming mobile office hours.
Spokane Projects Moving Forward
One of the great parts of being a state legislator is being able to relay the needs of local communities to the state capital and helping to make sure those needs are met. Through our state operating, capital, and transportation budgets, I have been able to support a variety of projects and programs that will serve our community for decades to come.
One project that just recently completed is the East Trent Bridge. This was a bridge that had been around since 1910. A lot has changed since then and getting a replacement that met safety standards was a big deal. The replacement is now up and running, six months ahead of schedule. I was happy to be at the ribbon cutting ceremony and celebrate the grand opening early this month.
I was able to tour the Concourse C Expansion Project a few weeks ago, checking out the progress as we grow to meet the additional people using Spokane International Airport. Whether it’s for business or families moving to the area, there’s simply more people living in the region and having an airport that can meet that need and improve the flying experience is an important step for us to take.
As we continue to grow in population, so will our need for rapid bus service. I was so pleased to attend the celebration of the opening of the new Central City Line. Now that service has begun, the new line serves stops from Cannon & Fourth to the SCC Transit Center. The line is served by zero-emission, battery-powered buses and will stop every 15 minutes six days a week, and every 30 minutes on Sunday. For the next month and a half, you can ride the City Line for free. And youth 18 and under ride free on all lines, so get out there and ride local transit!
Below are a few other projects I supported in the Capital and Transportation budgets:
- Continued funding for the North Spokane Corridor ($1.05 billion total)
- $7 million for the WSU Health Education Building
- $5 million for St. Agnes Haven for housing and homelessness support
- $4 million to expand community-based behavioral health services
- $3 million for Glen Tana land acquisition for conservation expansion
- $2.5 million for the VOA Youth Crosswalk Shelter
What to know about the end of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage
During the pandemic, the Health Care Authority (HCA) extended coverage for all Apple Health (Medicaid) clients but due to federal action, that extension is ending. If you use Apple Health for health care, you should log on to Washington Healthplanfinder at wahealthplanfinder.org to ensure your contact and income information is up to date.
If you are still eligible, you will be re-enrolled in Apple Health. If you no longer qualify, you can select a new health plan on the Healthplanfinder within 60 days to prevent a gap in your coverage. Most people who will lose Apple Health coverage can get a Cascade Care plan for less than $10 a month. Find out if you qualify or switch to a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan at wahealthplanfinder.org.
For enrollment assistance, there are experts in many areas across the state. Find one near you at wahealthplanfinder.org or the WAPlanfinder app. You can also call customer support at 1-855-923-4633.
Come Visit the Mobile Office!
I will be hosting two mobile offices this year. Mobile offices are a chance for us to meet one-on-one and I look forward to having this time to meet with constituents out in the community. The two mobile offices this year are:
- July 27 from 4:30-7:30PM at the Garland Summer Market
- September 15 from 4:30-7:30PM at the Emerson-Garfield Farmer’s Market
If you’re able to attend either of these, I hope to see you there and chat about issues your legislature can work on next session.
The 2023 Legislative Session Newsletter in your Mailbox!
A short newsletter from Sen. Andy Billig, Rep. Timm Ormsby, and me should be arriving in mailboxes starting last weekend. If you didn’t receive a copy, you can read it by clicking here to download the PDF.
It is my honor to serve you!
Rep. Marcus Riccelli