Friends, and Neighbors,
This week the Senate carved out a budget that puts Washingtonians first and we’re working around the clock to pass it.
We know Washington State is ranked #1 with the most regressive tax code in the nation and that our tax code is disproportionately burdening our working families who in many cases are barely getting by.
This budget isn’t balanced on the back of the worker.
$350 million will strengthen our state’s groundbreaking paid family leave program to help families spend more precious time together.
$345 million to stabilize school districts that experienced enrollment declines because of the pandemic.
$172 million to add nurses and counselors to schools to help us better meet the physical and socio-emotional needs of students.
$100 million toward aggressively addressing workforce shortages and improving access to behavioral health services amongst our laborers.
$95 million is going toward increasing access to lifelines for people across the state and prioritizing childcare, behavioral health services, child visitation, and in-home care.
$75 million for the Farmers-to-Families Food Box Program to get fresh, healthy food to food banks across the state.
The legislature has an opportunity to build a supplemental budget that recognizes the challenges schools, businesses, and communities have had to deal with the last two years. With smart planning over these last few tough years, we’ve yielded a $6 B dollar 2-year surplus that allows us the give back to hard working Washingtonians. The structure of our revenue system has yielded significant gains. Our unique 4 year budget planning requirement, significant fund reserves and strong business environment has given Washington a AAA bond rating. This means better rates for the state and benefits to us, the taxpayers. Although this is a supplemental budget year, we’ve been able to do more.
Broadband Update.
Over the course of the pandemic the tech sector boomed and with it, broadband became center stage for a long standing, yet modern debate on internet equity. As we dusted ourselves off from the initial shock of virtual classrooms and zoom conference calls, we left people left behind. We realized that it’s not just not having high speed broadband available. That’s one problem, but so is affordability, accessibility to a device and even digital literacy. A lot of those people were kids and youth, BIPOC communities, seniors, people with disabilities. We’re going to make sure we address Broadband for All.
A few years ago, the legislature passed my bill SB5511 to establish an office of the government that would take a strategic look at Washington’s Broadband. We designed the bill, and the office, to look at areas where we had gaps in broadband services. This session, HB 1723 expands the focus of the State Broadband Office to help increase the accessibility and affordability of telecommunications services, devices, and training—closing the digital equity divide. I’ve worked on this bill in the Senate to help get it over the finish line and I am so delighted with what I know will be a huge positive impact on the communities most in need everywhere , urban and rural.
Implants – The news isn’t good.
Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma is a type of cancer that can be caused by breast implants. Breast Implant Illness is another real potential, often undiagnosed for years, resulting in significant impacts; hair loss, fatigue, joint and muscle pain and depression. The Federal Drug Administration issued a warning on the boxes these implants are sold in. This part of the supply chain, however, is virtually invisible to a consumer, or in other words – the patient. Potential patients need a thorough briefing up-front, before a surgery is agreed to.
SB 5441 outlines regulations for informed consent when patients are seeking breast implant surgery. It outlines a simple process in which people receiving implants get more than a procedurally obscured package label. They receive accurate information on what they’re putting in their bodies. This very bill passed the Senate unanimously last year and again this year but could not get a hearing in the House!
I’m hoping just reading this will result in YOUR SHARING this information on your social media. Let’s do what we can. Thank you for any help.
Honored to serve as your Senator,
Lisa Z. Wellman
State Senator, 41st Legislative District
Chair, Early Learning & K-12 Education
P.S. Save the date! We’re hosting another Virtual Town Hall on March 16th, at 6pm Pacific. We’ll release more information closer to the date. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to ask your questions live by Liking and Following my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SenatorLisaWellman
