Washington State

Proposed Budgets – Especially Senate’s – Fail To Protect Quality Care For Seniors and People with Disabilities

Tuesday, February 23

Tens of thousands of low-income seniors and people with disabilities are able to live in their own homes thanks to in-home care services. And tens of thousands more live in nursing homes.

But the proposed Senate budget today fails to adequately protect quality care for seniors and people with disabilities. “The Senate may be increasing revenue, but not much if it is going to protect key services for seniors and people with disabilities,” said SEIU Healthcare 775NW Vice President Adam Glickman. “These budgets threaten the quality of care for the most vulnerable, kill thousands of jobs, and reduce income for low-wage worker and their communities.” The House budget makes key improvements, though still makes deep cuts to hours of care for vulnerable home care clients.

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Update from Olympia #7

Monday, February 22

Washington State Legislature Welcome to the 6th week of session! It’s going to be a big week on budget issues – rumors are flying about what’s in and what’s out in terms of budget and what they will do on revenue. We won’t know for sure until the House and Senate budgets are released early this week.

IN THIS ISSUERevenue Rally and Town Halls * House and Senate Take First Steps on Revenue * Good/Bad News on Bills * Caregivers Team Up with Senior Advocates for Purple Presence * Grassroots Legislative Organizer Blog

COMING UP THIS WEEK Monday/Tuesday: Public Hearing on New Budget Bills * Tuesday: Bill to Create Dedicated Revenue for Home Care Up for Hearing * Thursday: Purple Presence

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Working Together with (Almost All) of Our Home Care Employers in Olympia

Tuesday, February 16

We held our most successful home care quarterly employers meeting to date on February 16th. Eight of our nine Washington home care agencies attended, with the anti-union management of Korean Women’s Association being the only exception.

Employer representatives were particularly engaged in discussions around Legislative strategy, our home and community-based services provider tax bill, rule making around home care certification and testing fees. Many also committed to weighing in the Department of Health rulemaking process to create a fair certification and exam system for the new training standards that are set to begin in 2011.

Grassroots Legislative Organizer's Blog #6

Sunday, February 14

On Monday, I went to Tacoma for a rally to help stand up in support for home care workers with the Korean Women’s Association. The negotiations for their contract are not going so great. I went to the rally knowing that I was there to give my voice and support to the workers. In times like this numbers are more important than ever. We all need to stand behind KWA home care workers and urge management to support workers - because next time it could be my employer that doesn’t want to do the right thing. The rally went great - we had KWA workers there, several other members from other agencies and a lot of community supporters...

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Workers Deliver Their Message: Don’t Cut Nursing Home Funding

Thursday, February 11

A lunch-time shower at the Capitol Thursday was no match for 24 determined SEIU Healthcare 775NW nursing home workers. While state workers, legislators and everyone else scurried between buildings over a rain-soaked lunch hour, they couldn’t help but notice the nursing home workers who made their point – Don’t Cut Nursing Home Funding.

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775NW Member Chris Hardin and His Client Featured on King 5 News

Saturday, February 13

Click here for the written story on the King 5 News Web site.

Ban Unfair Car and Homeownership Insurance Practices

Friday, February 12

**THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THIS BILL IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IT WILL THEN MOVE TO THE HOUSE.**

You're a good driver, but if you think that's how insurance companies set your premium, think again.

Drivers face higher premiums because they've been laid off, have a lower level of education or have a bad credit score due to foreclosure, financial hardship or a lack of credit history.

We're still suffering from the recession. Times are tough. With so many struggling, we can't let insurance companies make things worse.

Email your legislators and tell them to ban unfair car and homeownership practices.

Save Long-Term Care Day a HUGE Success

Monday, January 25

Hundreds of Caregivers came to Olympia on Monday, January 25, for Save Long-Term Care Day.

We marched on the Capitol, met with dozens of senators and representatives and asked lawmakers to close tax loopholes and look for other sources of revenue to balance the state budget. in order to avoid devastating cuts to long-term care.

Because of budget cuts in 2009, the state eliminated 227,045 hours of care each month for vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities who receive home care services. Long-term care can’t take more cuts!

Watch The Movie

See Some of the Pictures

Help Stop the Cuts: Join us in Olympia Every Thursday for Purple Presence

Members at a Purple Presence in the 2009 Legislative Session

Small teams of caregivers from specific Legislative Districts will be in Olympia to meet with legislators, attend committee hearings and distribute literature every Thursday.

It’s our way of keeping a close eye on what’s going on in the political process.

Click here to sign up to come down to Olympia and to find out which date other members from your legislative district will be coming down.

For more information, call our Member Resource Center toll-free at 1 (866) 371-3200. Remember to wear purple!