Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy

The Capitol last week was full of rumors and anticipation about the Senate’s budget release date and about Governor Jay Inslee’s budget priorities. As it turned out, the Senate did not release their budget, and they also have not confirmed if they will release it this week. But Governor Inslee did release his budget priorities, which revealed a mixed bag of positive first steps on revenue and disappointing cuts to Disability Lifeline (more on that below).

First, We Need You to TAKE ACTION Now that we've heard from the governor regarding his budget priorities, the legislature is set to release theirs. This is the perfect time to let your elected official know that we need to pass a budget that protects our state's most vulnerable residents. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones are showing record highs. It's time for our economic recovery to reach all people on all streets. Not just Wall Street. Pass a budget protecting safety net programs that help create housing opportunities for our communities! Click here to take action now.

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Fair Tenant Screening Act Update

Since the next bill cutoff date is Wednesday, April 3, last week was spent hearing a lot of bills. The Fair Tenant Screening Act, SSB 5568, is scheduled to be voted on in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 2 at 10:00am. If it's passed out of committee, it then heads to House Rules Committee and then to the floor for another vote. Remember, so far this bill and the similar house version SHB 1529 received broad bipartisan support every step of the way. We hope it will continue to move forward in the same manner. Watch the Housing Alliance’s Facebook page and Twitter feed (hashtag #FTSA2013) for timely updates on Tuesday morning.

Governor Inslee’s Budget Priorities

Thumbs Up for Revenue

The Governor presented budget recommendations last Thursday that includes significant revenue obtained from the closing of tax exemptions and the extension of two taxes otherwise set to expire (a modest B&O tax on some services and a tax on beer). If the legislature takes these recommendations, about $1.2 billion will be gained. The current budget deficit is about $1.3 billion (before taking into account the extra spending mandated on K-12 education by the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision). There is no doubt that the Governor’s proposal is a great first step towards solving our budget problems. But without more revenue, the state will again rely on cuts to human services to balance the budget. Over $11 billion has already been cut and it is time to say no more.

Thumbs Down for Disability Lifeline Cut 

Although not unexpected, it was still disappointing that the Governor’s budget recommendations eliminate most cash grants for the Aged, Blind and Disabled population and also eliminates DSHS incapacity examinations (cash grants are maintained for the aged population). Although the recommendations indicate that Housing and Essential Needs will continue to be funded and incapacity examinations will be moved to the counties, it's unclear if there is enough funding recommended to meet the needs of even the current eligible populations. Here are a couple excerpts from the budget recommendations that speak to these cuts:

Terminate the disabled grant program to maximize the refinancing of Medicaid expansion. Services provided through the Essential Needs and Housing Support program in the Department of Commerce will provide housing and other supports, such as transportation vouchers.
The aged grant program will continue.

Save $13.4 million by eliminating Social Security Income facilitators for disabled childless adults. This function will be shifted to the counties as part of safety net reform.

Governor Inslee Rapid Rehousing Proposal

Another detail of Governor Inslee’s budget recommendations is to redirect Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds to a new program that would support Rapid Re-Housing for families with children. While we are still learning details of the program, it will include the use of $10 million of TANF dollars and about $5 million from document recording fee revenue. The Department of Commerce will administer this program and they plan on starting in April with five pilot programs in the following counties; Spokane, Snohomish, Whatcom, Cowlitz and Mason. More details to come as the program is fleshed out.

You can read the Governor’s press release and proposal here.

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Budget Advocacy

As we’ve mentioned before, the Senate is set to be the first chamber to release a budget, and they could do so any day now. At the close of last week though, rumors were flying about a breakdown in negotiations within the “Majority Coalition Caucus” and there was still a lot of uncertainty about when the budget would come out. Regardless, we do know that advocacy on our priorities is critical.

If you haven’t already sent a letter to your elected officials asking them to fund the Housing Trust Fund, Washington Families Fund, Disability Lifeline (Housing & Essential Needs and the Aged, Blind and Disabled program) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, then please do so now! Click here to send emails to your legislators.

If you have already sent a letter, please ask three of your friends, family, or colleagues to take action with you. Click here to send an email asking three others to take action. Tell them why you care and what is at stake.

Safety Net Press Conference

Stand-by for tweets and updates on Tuesday, April 2 at 12:30 from our Safety Net Press Conference. Senator Darneille (27th-Tacoma) and recipients of safety net services will be joining us, as well as a formerly homeless vet and an education worker from the North Thurston County School District. Together, our speakers will explain why it's critical to maintain investments in safety net services and why funding education at the expense of services is a zero-sum game.

Don’t forget to take action today!