Action Alert: Washington Deserves a Budget that Protects the Most Vulnerable

Both the House and the Senate are preparing to release their budgets. Time is running out to let elected officials know how important it is for Washington State to have a budget that reflects Washington values and Jewish values.

This session the stakes are simply too high. Washington faces a $2.6 billion deficit on top of the massive deficit from last year that resulted in $3.6 billion in program cuts. With over 70% of the state budget protected from cuts and reductions, legislators are faced with making deep cuts to programs helping families struggling in this historic recession.

The magnitude of these cuts will be faced by clients, but more strain will be placed on the Jewish community's social safety net (food banks, shelters, counseling services, substance abuse programs, child care services, etc). The services our community and our service agencies depend on is under siege like never before.

Deep cuts or outright elimination of programs will mean the private, nonprofit sector will be asked to do more with fewer resources.

What's at stake this session?

General Assistance Unemployable: More than 20,000 disabled people will lose the only safety net they have.

Basic Health Plan: More than 65,000 people will lose their health insurance if planned cuts are enacted.

Apple Health: Thousands of children from low-income families will not receive even basic health care.

Working Connections Childcare: 2,400 working parents will no longer receive subsidized child care services.

Substance Abuse Programs: Almost 4,000 people will lose outpatient treatment services.

Maternity Services: Women with at-risk pregnancies will lose critical maternity support services.

Early Learning: Thousands of three year olds will lose access to early-childhood education programs for low-income families.

Clearly, the stakes are very high. Please take a moment to email your elected officials and ask them to support a budget that protects key human service programs, makes reforms that strengthen safety net programs, and considers responsible ways to raise new revenue.