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Update from Olympia #9

Monday, March 8

Washington State LegislatureThere are only four days left in the regular session, and the legislature is busy trying to reach agreement between the House and Senate budget and revenue proposals. If they can’t reach agreement by Thursday, March 11th, they’ll have to ask the Governor to convene a special session.

IN THIS ISSUE14,000 Names Delivered to Key Budget Writers * House Protects Adult Day Health Services, but Rejects Amendments to Fund Nursing Homes and Home Care * Operating Budget Process * Bad Nursing Home Bills Moving Through Legislature * Grassroots Legislative Organizer Blog

COMING UP THIS WEEK Monday: Rapid Response * Tuesday: Legislative Conference Call * Thursday: Sine Die


IN THIS ISSUE
14,000 Names Delivered to Key Budget WritersFour home care workers - Cathy Byrd, David Lindberg, Ivy Williams and Flash Scaff, Jr. - spoke for 14,000 in Olympia when they delivered names of members who support raising revenue and preventing cuts to home care and other critical long-term care services. We collected the names in two big binders and delivered them to key budget decision makers. Since home care workers don't have a common workplace, the petition “signed” virtually or over the phone.

Click here for pictures and video

Purple PresenceThursday was our last Purple Presence for the session. We had 28 members and 4 clients in Olympia and delivered over 200 postcards to legislators. We pulled legislators of the House and Senate Floors in order to meet with them.


House Protects Adult Day Health Services, but Rejects Amendments to Fund Nursing Homes and Home CareThe House considered three amendments to the budget on Friday evening. They accepted one to restore funding for adult day health, but voted no on two amendments offered by Representative Geoff Simpson (47th LD) that would have funded nursing homes and home care services. It was difficult to see the house budget pass without including the nursing home quality assurance fee or restoring funding for home care hours, but we still have time to improve on the budgets in the conference process.

Operating Budget Update Now that the House and Senate have both passed their versions of the operating budget, representatives from each chamber have to work out a “Conference Budget” that will be sent back to both chambers for approval. From our perspective, the "Conference Budget" worked out by budget negotiators must:

  • Support Senate proposal on home care hours;
  • Support House proposal on home care agency administrative rate;
  • Support House proposal on nursing home funding; and
  • Support House proposal on adult day health.


Bad Nursing Home Bills Moving Through Legislature The House and Senate both have bills that cuts nursing home rates moving through the ways and means committees. The Senate bill – SB 6872 – cuts $58 million out of nursing home rates, while the House bill – HB 3202 - cuts $17 million. Neither of these bills are acceptable for nursing home workers or residents and we’re pushing for the legislature to adopt an alternative by passing the Nursing Home Quality Assurance Fee.

Grassroots Legislative Organizer (GLO) Blog Cathy just posted another update on her blog. Get the inside scoop on what it's like to be working full-time in Olympia.

Click here to read her blog.


Here's what's coming up this week:
Monday: Rapid ResponseOn Monday, at 8 am, the House Ways and Means Committee is holding a public hearing on HB 3210, a bill introduced by Representative Walsh and Representative Armstrong that would delay improved training and background check standards in Initiative 1029. Susie Young will be there to testify in opposition to the proposal on behalf of the thousands of caregivers who have fought to improve the quality of care and create career pathways in long-term care.


Tuesday: Legislative Conference Call Join us for the last conference call of the 2010 legislative session. The call will be led by Catherine Byrd, a member and this session's Grassroots Legislative Organizer. She'll help us understand what's happening in Olympia, as we near the end of session.

For more information on how to join the conference call, please call our Member Resource Center toll-free at 1 (866) 371-3200.

Thursday: Sine DieThursday, March 11th is the last day of the regular session. This day is called “Sine Die,” which is Latin for “without a day specified for a future meeting.” It is specified in the Constitution that the legislature finish the regular session by this day. If they haven’t agreed on a budget and revenue package, the Governor will need to convene a special session so they can continue to work to reach agreement.



Update from Olympia #8 (March 1, 2010)
Update from Olympia #7 (February 22, 2010)
Update from Olympia #6 (February 15, 2010)
Update from Olympia #5 (February 8 2010)
Update from Olympia #4 (February 1, 2010)
Update from Olympia #3 (January 25, 2010)
Update from Olympia #2 (January 18, 2010)
Update from Olympia #1 (January 11, 2010)