The big news this week – in the legislature, Democrats are already getting to work on school funding, and in DC Republicans are ramping up their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats Lead on School Funding
Schools across Washington State facing funding cuts because of legislative inaction would see a reprieve under legislation passed out of committee by House Democrats this week. On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee voted on a 17-15 party line vote to pass HB 1059, a bill to delay a cut to levies that local school districts rely on to pay for teachers, school supplies, and other essential costs. If HB 1059 doesn’t pass, school districts could be forced to lay off thousands of teachers, raise class sizes, and hurt the kids who rely on a great education for a bright future in life.
Passing HB 1059 would protect $358 million in essential school funding across the state.
The vote to pass the bill came down on a straight party line – every Democrat voted to protect school funding and every Republican voted to cut school funding. The difference between our parties couldn’t be more clear – Democrats support students and Republicans want to cut their schools.
The 15 Republicans who voted against this essential funding for schools are:
Rep. Vincent Buys Lynden 360-786-7854
Rep. Michelle Caldier Port Orchard 360-786-7802
Rep. Bruce Chandler Granger 360-786-7960
Rep. Cary Condotta Chelan 360-786-7954
Rep. Larry Haler Richland 360-786-7986
Rep. Paul Harris Vancouver 360-786-7976
Rep. Drew MacEwen Union 360-786-7902
Rep. Matt Manweller Ellensburg 360-786-7808
Rep. Terry Nealy Dayton 360-786-7828
Rep. Joe Schmick Colfax 360-786-7844
Rep. Drew Stokesbary Auburn 360-786-7846
Rep. David Taylor Moxee 360-786-7874
Rep. Brandon Vick Felida 360-786-7850
Rep. Mike Volz Spokane 360-786-7922
Rep. JT Wilcox Yelm 360-786-7912
Let them know – funding education is the legislature’s most important job! Legislators need to stand up, do the right thing for kids, pass this bill and fund our schools!
Republican Attacks on the Affordable Care Act
Republicans in DC are continuing their plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which provides insurance to more than 750,000 Washingtonians and ensures critical protections like banning discrimination based on pre-existing conditions.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan got a bit of a surprise at a CNN townhall last night when a lifelong Republican whose life was saved by the Affordable Care Act confronted him about how they could repeal the ACA without a replacement. Watch the viral video clip here and share it on Facebook or Twitter.
That powerful story apparently went in one of Paul Ryan’s ears and out the other, because today, Ryan is moving forward with his plan to take health care away from millions of Americans and throw the health care system into chaos.
Repealing the Affordable Care Act is a move that only one in four Americans support. Most Americans who have received care through the Affordable Care Act live in Republican-led districts, meaning that Ryan and his fellow Republicans are stabbing their own voters in the back with this repeal vote. Countless Republicans are getting cold feet over their own party’s “repeal-and-delay” plan because they know that despite the political rhetoric, their constituents depend on the lifesaving care that the ACA provides. Republicans will regret attempting to take health care away from millions of Americans.
Republicans may have started the repeal process but we can still fight back! This coming Sunday, January 15th, please join us at a rally in Westlake Park in Seattle to say NO to taking health care away from hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians and millions more Americans. The rally will be from noon to 1 PM at Westlake Park at 401 Pine St, Seattle. There is a Facebook event through which you can RSVP here or just show up and be there!
In The News:
KING 5: Gov. Inslee: Don’t repeal Obamacare without replacing it same day
Q13 FOX: Inslee blasts plan by Republican-led Congress to repeal Obamacare
Spokesman-Review: House panel votes to delay ‘levy cliff’
Seattle Times: Gov. Inslee implores lawmakers in inaugural speech to focus on education funding
Crosscut: Inslee defends his budget, promises to resist Trump
Federal Way Mirror: City, schools sign agreement to bring higher ed to Federal Way
Olympian: In blue Washington state, demand for inauguration tickets is down
Seattle P-I: Jayapal sets rally for ‘outrage and uproar’ on health care rollback
