Save Human Services

SPRING INTO ACTION

Tell your legislators that you support 

tax increases and NOT more cuts to Human Services

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Please call and urge your legislators to save Human Services by raising taxes.  It is important to tell your legislators that you as an individual taxpayer are willing to pay more taxes to fund the services you care about.  Below is some background on Human Services Cuts. 

Supporters are asked to take the following actions:

1.1.     Call your legislators and the Governor directly at the numbers listed below (preferred method)

OR

Call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000

2.     Leave the following message for both of your representatives and your senator:  

“I am calling as a voter and taxpayer in your district.  I am concerned about the proposed cuts to human services like…[Medicaid Dental, Vision and Hearing, Developmental Disabilities, GAU-General Assistance to Unemployable program, the Basic Health Plan, Mental Health Funding]..  I am willing to pay more taxes to preserve these important programs. "

Be sure to tell them you are a voter in their district. 

Leave a similar message for Governor Gary Locke at his office: (360) 902-4111 OR at the Legislative Hotline:  1-800-562-6000.

Email or fax this call to action to as many groups and individuals as possible!

IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, you can find out on the state’s legislative website:  http://dfind.leg.wa.gov/dfinder.cfm# or by calling the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000.  

Background Information

Current state budget deficit haves generated proposals for even deeper cuts to human services this legislative session.  These cuts include:

·       $100 million in cuts to dental, vision and hearing services for low-income parents, Seniors, and disabled persons who receive health coverage through Medicaid. 

·       Severe cuts to the General Assistance to Unemployable (GAU) program, which would cause nearly 10,000 disabled, needy adults to lose their small cash grant and medical coverage.  At least 65% of these disabled persons are mentally ill.

·       $40 million in cuts to mental health funding.  This would virtually destroy the mental health services delivery system.

·       $13 million in cuts to prevocationals services to adults with developmental disabilities

·       $15 million in cuts to the State Housing Trust Fund, a highly effective program that leverages other public and private investment and creates jobs. 

·       $17 million in cuts to Behavioral Rehabilitative Services, a program that provides services for foster children with serious emotional, behavioral or medical difficulties.

·       Reducing enrollment in the Basic Health Plan by 60,000.  The Basic Health Plan offers low-cost health care to those earning less than twice the federal poverty level, over 40 percent of whom have jobs. 

Without new revenues, the odds of restoring any human services cuts are slim.  This is why human services supporters need to make the message loud and clear to our legislators:  Increase our taxes.  Don’t cut Human Services.    Imagine what thousands of calls in one day from voters across the state could do!  To save human services, WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION!