Senate budget fails the poor and most vulnerable, bishops warn

A bill that would mandate abortion coverage in insurance plans that cover maternity care did not pass out of its state Senate committee by an April 3 deadline. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain testified against the bill, saying it was a violation of religious liberty.

HB 1044 was heard on April 1 by the Senate Health Care Committee. The hearing room and two other overflow rooms were filled. Opponents of the mandate, wearing pink ribbons and buttons, made up a clear majority of the crowd.

In his testimony, Archbishop Sartain said that contradictions in the conscience clause would make it ineffective in protecting even churches from the mandate.

“This legislation discriminates unjustly against churches, religious organizations and people who for religious reasons oppose abortion,” the archbishop said. “In addition, it must be stated that the supposed protection of the measure’s conscience clause in reality offers no protection at all.”

The hearing ended without executive action taken by the committee, meaning the bill was not passed out of committee before the Legislature’s self-imposed April 3 deadline. Bills failing to pass their policy committees by the deadline are normally considered to be dead. However, any measure can be acted on through parliamentary procedures prior to the end of legislative session.

Senate budget

The Senate has passed a new budget for the 2013–15 biennium with a bipartisan vote of 30-18. The proposed $33.3 billion budget does not increase taxes or revenue for the state. The state’s Catholic bishops expressed concern that the budget eliminates essential safety-net services.

The Senate added $1.5 billion to the state’s education budget in response to a recent state Supreme Court ruling, effectively spending state funds that might have been applied to services for the poor.

“We’re being offered a false choice between education and the safety net here,” Donna Christenson, advocate for the Washington State Catholic Conference, told The Progress. “The goal of the WSCC is to fund both safety-net programs and education in Washington.”

The Housing Trust Fund, used by organizations like Catholic Housing Services to provide shelter for homeless and low-income persons, is being diverted by the Senate to the general operating budget. Cash grants to the elderly, blind and disabled provided by Housing and Essential Needs were also cut.

The Working Connections program, which provides financial assistance to poor families, was cut by $180 million virtually eliminating childcare for many low-income, working parents.

Programs assisting the poor in Washington state have been slashed repeatedly to help balance the state budget in recent legislative sessions.

Sexual abuse education bill

Legislation which would require schools to create training guides on the prevention of sexual abuse and sex trafficking of minors has passed the Legislature. SB 5563 is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for his signature. The WSCC supports the bill.

April 11, 2013