The outline of an all-cuts budget released by the Washington State House Democrats, illustrates how difficult the task to balance the budget is. If passed, this budget will have a serious negative impact on Washingtonians with $12 billion in cuts to health care, long-term care, child care, higher education, and more.
What’s at Risk?
- $3.5 billion from health care for children, low income people, people with disabilities, aging adults
- $1.5 billion from long-term care for people with disabilities, aging adults
- $1.3 billion from human services and early learning from low income families
- $1.1 billion from higher education, including workforce training and community colleges
Cuts to Health Care and Long-Term Care would harm seniors, people with developmental disabilities, and those in need of long-term care who would see massive reductions to services designed to ensure quality of life.
Cuts to Childcare and Early Learning would reduce TANF funding, senior nutrition, summer EBT, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) for preschoolers, and eliminate early ECEAP for children ages birth-3.
Washington’s tax system is among the most unfair in the nation – working families pay over three times more of their income in taxes than the wealthiest. And our lowest-income residents pay the highest share of their incomes in taxes, while the wealthiest pay the least. It’s time to change that.
Neighborhood House joins with other advocates in support of taxes on the wealthiest Washingtonians and large corporations so we can fully fund our schools, ensure quality healthcare for anyone who needs it, and provide stability for our families.
By Janice Deguchi, content adapted from Invest in Washington Now, Balance Our Tax Code, and Washington State House Democrats website.
L-R Dr. Angela Griffin, CEO Byrd Barr Place, Scott Schubert, CEO of Metropolitan Development Council, Janice, Rep. Emily Alvarado
L-R Rep. Steve Bergquist, Janice, and Dr. Angela Griffin, CEO of Byrd Barr Place