Here is a quick update on:

1. Our legislative agenda,
2. Details about Lobby Day and
3. The Snohomish County legislators who are in a position to have a direct impact on the issues on our agenda.

Legislative Agenda

Our agenda for the 2012 Legislative Session focuses on kids, seniors and healthcare and was developed by our Public Policy Committee, our Vision Councils, Board of Directors and other volunteer committees. 

Kids 

For kids, we are focused on 1) Maintaining eligibility for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program for three and four year olds; 2) Maintaining eligibility for Working Connections Child Care at 175 percent of the federal poverty level and direct any TANF savings to reducing the wait list for WCCC; and 3) Maintaining existing afterschool programming, including transportation, tutoring and mentoring.

Seniors

For seniors, we are focused on maintaining funding to support services such as information & assistance, transportation, nutrition caregiver support and other local services with particular concern for 1) Changes in eligibility requirements for people with developmental disabilities and others needing long-term care; 2) Reductions in funding for the Senior Citizens Services Act, and 3) The elimination of funding for Adult Day Health.

Healthcare

Our healthcare agenda is focused on maintaining important health insurance options such as Basic Health and Apple Health for Kids with particular concern for 1) Changes in eligibility for Children's Health; 2) The suspension of adult Medicaid pharmacy benefits; 3) The Elimination of Disability Lifeline; 4) The elimination of the Medically Needy Medicaid program; and 5) The elimination of the Basic Health Plan.

We will be working on these issues throughout this legislative session. If you would like to join United Way in advocating for these issues, please consider joining us for the 6th annual United Ways of Washington Lobby Day on Thursday, February 9. We will schedule appointments and provide talking points on issues. Please contact Katrina Ondracek if you are interested in attending.

Several of the legislators who represent Snohomish County in Olympia will play a critical role on the issues we care about.

House

Rep. Ruth Kagi chairs the Early Learning and Human Services Committee and serves on the Ways and Means, and the Health and Human Services Appropriations and Oversight Committees.  

Rep. Mary Helen Roberts serves as the vice chair of the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee.

Rep. Mike Hope serves on the Early Learning and Human Services, and the Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee.

Rep. Marko Liias and Rep. John McCoy serve on the Education Committee.

Rep. Mike Sells and Rep. Derek Stanford serve on the Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee.

Rep. Barbara Bailey serves on the Ways and Means and the Health Care and Wellness Committees.

Rep. Norma Smith and Rep. Cindy Ryu serve on the Community Development and Housing Committee.

Senate

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe chairs the Early Learning and K-12 Education and serves on the Human Services and Corrections Committee.

Sen. Nick Harper serves on the Early Learning and K-12 Education, Human Services, Corrections, and Ways and Means Committees.

Sen. Steve Hobbs serves on the Early Learning and K-12 Education and Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance Committees.

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen serves on the Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance Committee.