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This Week in Housing Advocacy: Special Session Update

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The Capitol was still and quiet until Thursday when the Senate Republicans unveiled yet another surprise budget. Like the last one, it was shrouded in secrecy. Senate Republican leadership hid it even from the Governor with whom they met for budget negotiations in the hour before the unveiling. Although the release of yet another Republican budget was a surprise – the contents weren’t. The safety net was slashed again, but even worse this time, with the Housing and Essential Needs program completely eliminated, Disability Lifeline Medical completely eliminated and TANF deeply cut.  


The Governor’s response to the unveiling was fierce. She called it a theatrical performance and told reporters that she wanted lawmakers to negotiate in good faith, and she threatened to veto many of the remaining bills sent for her signature.

"I'm disappointed and I'm frustrated. This is no way to get a budget. I've had everyone in my office for four consecutive days… but then, yet again another budget by only one group that will not get us out of town. Let me remind everybody that it is 25, 50 and 1 [referring to the votes needed in the Senate, the House and her signature]. We will not get out of here unless everyone comes to the table and negotiates in good faith…. I want a budget…To help them hear the message I have denied the members, I have denied the lobbyists their bills… Stop passing bills by only one of four corners of the legislature…this does not advance trust in the room." - Governor Gregoire on the surprise unveiling of yet another Senate Republican budget.

The Governor said that she is only signing bills that are “too important to veto” and so the Housing Alliance was relieved that one of our top priorities already secured her signature when the SSB 6315 – the Tenant Screening Act – was signed into law on Thursday. It will go into effect on June 7th. Watch the Governor sign the bill by clicking here.


These are Critical Times - Take Action Again!

We have to repeat ourselves over and over again to win. Until final budgets are signed that fully fund HEN, DL and TANF and that invest in the Housing Trust Fund – we must continue to take action and to ask others to do the same.

There is immense pressure on our elected officials to compromise and get out of Olympia. Our champions need encouragement and our opponents need to be pressured to do the right thing. Click here to take action again today.


Housing Trust Fund Call - Thursday March 22nd at 12:00.

When regular session ended on March 8th, no Capital Budget had yet been voted on. Since then, a new House proposal has been introduced that reduces the Housing Trust Fund allocation to approximately $71 million. This was in response to ongoing House negotiations with the Senate.

New language was added to the Housing Trust Fund appropriation that attempts to provide more flexibility from the set-asides and project list. To better understand the political constraints and the possible implications of the project list, please join the Housing Alliance for a discussion. On Thursday, March 22nd at 12:00 we will host a call in which we will provide updates and a chance to hear directly from Commerce. Sign up here to participate in the call.

These are critical times  - with the fate of Housing and Essential Needs, Disability Lifeline, TANF and the Housing Trust Fund yet to be decided, the wellbeing of thousands of men, women and children across the state is at risk. Please take action today and ask at least three others to join you. Send them this email or send them the link to the action page – tell them why you care and how much their voice matters.

Stay tuned for more updates and more strategic opportunities to take action.

As always, thank you for your advocacy,
Michele

 

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