Grassroots Legislative Organizer's Blog - January 17, 2010
(Click here for more information on the Grassroots Legislative Organizer Program)
I just finished my first week in Olympia as a Grassroots Legislative Organizer for our union. All I can say is, “Wow!” We had our first Purple Presence, I attended a rally to save the Basic Health Program and helped schedule appointments for Save Long-Term Care Day.
Purple PresenceWe had a great turnout for our first Purple Presence. I would like to thank Lynda DeSha and Bertena Robertson. This was their first time at the Capitol. It was great to see them stand up for their rights as caregivers.
Everyone else who came down also worked hard. They delivered over 800 postcards to different legislators and delivered another batch of postcards to the Governor. (This is just part of the 3,400 postcard members filled out around the state over the past few months.) We’ll be delivering the rest over the next few weeks.
One of the highlights of Purple Presence was when Tanika Thompson testified on how the cuts to home care have affected us – and particularly our clients.
Basic Health Rally
I also attended a rally to save Basic Health. The event was on the steps of the capitol building and they were there to fight to save Basic Health. The group had collected over 3,200 signatures to give to the governor telling her not to cut Basic Health.
The fee has doubled in the last year. For a single person on minimum wage ($8.25/hour) the rate went from $36 to $61 a month. And the deductible went up from $150 TO $200 year. That doesn’t even include fees for the doctors and medicine.
When I talked to people about how the cuts to our health insurance, they couldn’t believe it. They said, “Home care workers without health care? That’s insane. What kind of sense does that make?” It’s good to know that other groups support us too.
On a Personal Note
My client is in the hospital right now. She was collecting fluid in her body and it was filling up her lungs. They have been able to drop off 42 pounds and she is breathing better.
I might be over here in Olympia but a caregiver is always a caregiver - no matter where there are.
We have a great event on Monday for MLK day. To honor him put also show awareness of the issues that are facing many of the people in our state.
We all need to start calling our representatives and senators telling them to stop the cuts and figure out how to get new revenue.
Everyone has a voice, including caregivers. We need to start using it loud and clear.
If you don’t know the phone number to call, you can look it up on
www.leg.wa.gov or you can call 1 (800) 562-6000 and they can help you.
Catherine Byrd
“Change can’t happen if you don’t do something about it.”