Dear Friends,

Senate Democrats propose climate change legislation

On Wednesday, I took part in a press conference to introduce a Senate bill designed to help Washington maintain its role as a leader in combating climate change.

As you may have read, according to a recent United Nations report on the subject, scientists are now 90 percent certain that humans have contributed significantly to the phenomenon often referred to as global warming.

Washington is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts because of our dependence on snowpack for summer stream flows and because the anticipated rise in sea levels threatens our coastal communities.

If the increase in greenhouse gas emissions continues unabated, temperatures will rise by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century. Imagine the impact of that on our snowpack and sea levels.

Our proposal would:

• Significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by establishing statewide targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, 2035 and 2050.
• Lessen Washington’s dependence on foreign oil by setting a target of 2020 to reduce state expenditures on imported fuel by 20 percent over current spending, to keep more of our citizens’ energy spending here at home.
• Create thousands of jobs by setting a goal to triple the clean energy sector jobs in the state by 2020.
• Set rigorous performance standards by establishing a greenhouse gas performance standard for new natural gas and coal plants, as well as for power purchases by utilities.
• Lend a hand to utilities by affirming utility programs that expend funds for mitigation of emissions by providing utilities an incentive to invest in cost-effective conservation and energy efficiency technologies.

I recognize that no state or region can unilaterally address climate change. But by introducing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state, we have the power to influence national and international policy.

Blue Ribbon Commission health care bill

On Tuesday, the governor introduced her “Healthy Washington Initiative,” a comprehensive health care bill that makes strategic investments to implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access.

As a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission, I was proud to stand by her as she presented her plan at a press conference. The major components are:

• Extending coverage to young adults. Young adults ages 19 to 25 make up close to 30 percent of the uninsured in this state. The bill addresses this by requiring insurance companies to extend eligibility to unmarried adults younger than 25 by either continuing to allow the employer to contribute to the cost of coverage or allowing the employee to pay the cost in full.
• Health coverage portability. Washington has the second-highest number of temporary workers. Many of those workers, when they move on to a new job, leave their health insurance behind. The governor proposes to design a connector through which health insurance can be bought and sold.
• Reducing emergency room visits. In 2005, there were nearly 2.3 million emergency room visits to Washington hospitals. The bill would direct the state Health Care Authority to provide grants to community health centers that work with local hospitals to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits.

I would like to thank the Spokane County Medical Society, Project Access and the Spokane Alliance for being involved in the process, and for their efforts to explain to the commission the importance of supporting community organizations that promote cost-effective care.

Stay tuned for next week’s update!

Sincerely,

Lisa

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