Electronic newsletter

Dear Neighbors,

We are into the heart of the 2007 legislative session in Olympia. We have heard ideas and taken public testimony. In the few remaining weeks, legislators must decide which ideas will become law. So I am launching my first e-newsletter to update you on some bills that I am working on.

Senate Democrats are focused on education, health care, family-wage jobs, transportation and environmental protection.

Veterans Conservation Corps

More than 48,000 soldiers from Washington have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. When they return home and leave the military, too many have a hard time finding a job, job training or education. At the same time, we have a huge backlog of natural conservation projects in our state — projects to protect and restore rivers, streams, lakes, forests, and fish and wildlife habitat.

Last year, the Legislature created the Veterans Conservation Corps to offer volunteer opportunities for veterans. This year, I’m sponsoring Senate Bill 5164, which would expand that program. With this bill, we can pay veterans to work on conservation projects, give them on-the-job training and offer them advanced education in environmental restoration and management.

The Veterans Conservation Corps is one way veterans can continue to serve our country while they gain strong job skills, earn good wages to support a family and help our natural environment. The bill passed the Senate unanimously. It now awaits a vote in the House of Representatives.

Children’s Health Care

Because of SB 5093, an additional 38,000 children in low-income families will now get health care coverage. As a testament to the importance of health care issues, this was one of the very first bills this year passed by the Legislature and signed into law. I was pleased to support a bill to improve the health and lives of children and reduce health care costs.

This bill was just one part of the Legislature’s intense focus on health care. Other bills address mental health parity, paid leave insurance, prescription drug discounts, public health system improvements, and more. This is already a groundbreaking session for health care issues, and it may get even better.

Washington Prescription Drug Program

You can enroll in the new Washington Prescription Drug Program by going to www.rx.wa.gov. You can also dial a toll-free number — 800-913-4146 — to enroll. Due to the popularity of the program, you may have an easier time applying online.

I encourage you to share your thoughts with me. You can find more information on issues by visiting my Web site at http://sdc.leg.wa.gov/jacobsen.htm.

Sincerely,

Ken

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