Faith Action Network

Celebrated our Launch

Saturday, September 17 at

University Congregational Church

Join us now at our new Faith Action Network website for updated information on Legislative Successes, Ballot Initative Positions, Fall Forums, Advocating Congregation Summit, Upcoming Fundraising Events and much much more!

End of Session Wrap Up!

Finally, after almost 5 months the 2011 State Legislature has adjourned until the 2nd Monday of January 2012.  It passed and balanced all 3 state budgets – transportation, capital and operating.  The biggest disappointment is that the operating budget was balanced by about 90% cuts; the rest (about $460M) was in fund transfers.  There were no revenue solutions or repeal of tax exemptions that made the light of day.   The house did vote on one tax exemption bill (an out of state bank exemption for interest they earn on first mortgages.)  That bill would have directed the money recovered from repealing this exemption to help preserve funding for K-3 class size reduction.  The vote received a majority vote, however, Initiative 1053 requires 2/3’s for any tax or fee increase – therefore the bill died – because repealing a tax exemption is being interpreted by legislative leadership as a tax increase.  In this bleak picture we did never the less have some major policy victories.

Policy Bill Victories!!!!

HB 1362 – Preventing home foreclosures via non judicial mediation: LPPO is a part of APPL (Alliance for the Prevention of Predatory Lending) who was the force behind getting this bill passed and signed by the governor.  Bruce Neas from Columbia Legal Services was our lead lobbyist/negotiator on this and deserves a lot of credit.

SB 5769 – Transition of the Lewis County Coal Plant: LPPO is a part of the Environmental Priorities Coalition and this was their main victory of the session.  Sen. Phil Rockefeller from Kitsap County deserves a lot of credit as he skillfully led the negotiations on this.  Earth Ministry, a religious partner of LPPO’s, was a key advocate in this effort as well.

SB 5423 – Legal Financial Obligation Reform to ’stop the interest rate clock’ during incarceration: This reform will lighten the financial burden of people coming out of prison in our state and help reduce recidivism.  Nick Allen with Columbia Legal Services was key in keeping this bill moving thru the process.

Two New Policy Areas Victories:

HB 1277 – Adult Family Home reform and reducing elder abuse:  This bill will now help provide better oversight of inspecting for abuse and greater penalties and fees for AFH owners.  LPPO was a part of the Long Term Care Coalition and helped form a new group of consumers who have family members that have been abused.  One worthy of noting is Ann Detlefs, member now at Peace Lutheran in West Seattle, who was very active in this effort and testified before the senate health care committee.

HB 1874 & SB 5546 – Human Trafficking:  LPPO was the main religious voice in Olympia on this issue and worked with Velma Veloria and Rose Gundersen, lead lobbyists, to get these bills through.  The house bill gives local law enforcement greater ability to apprehend the actual perpetrators and the senate bill strengthens the definition of the current statute regarding human trafficking.

Two bills we opposed and helped stop:

HB 1126 – The anti gang bill proposed by the Attorney General:  This bill was opposed by the Community of Color coalition led by the ACLU because it focused too much on punishment & prosecution versus prevention and intervention.  LPPO set up a meeting on African American Lobby Day of clergy and community leaders with the Attorney General and will be doing a follow up meeting in the interim.

HB 1577 & SB 5407 – Driver’s License anti immigrant bill:  LPPO was a part of the largely Latino led coalition of communities of color and testified on the bill in the house.  Both of these efforts to oppose harmful legislation are a testament to grassroots organizing.

Budget Summary regarding LPPO’s Major Priorities

In Education, State funding for School Lunches cut remained at $6m and K-12 Class size reduction funding was reduced.

Housing Trust Fund was preserved at $50m. This includes $3 million to serve people with developmental disabilities, $3 million for farm worker housing, $3 million for homeless veterans, $3 million for communities of concern, and $6 million for weatherization.  However, increased funding for Homeless services did not pass.

Basic Health Plan was preserved but will be reduced down to 34 thousand enrollees by the end of the biennium (July 2013), with a freeze on the new admissions for next two years.  There is now a waiting list of 150 thousand people for this program.

Disability Lifeline program was totally restructured.  For those who are not awaiting federal SSI determination, the cash grants were eliminated, though medical benefits were restored and a new Essential Needs & Housing Support Program will be available for those who are eligible.  This program will be run through the Commerce Department.  A new ABD (aged, blind, or disabled) program will serve those awaiting federal SSI assistance and they will be eligible for monthly grants of up to $197/month.

State Funding for the Small Farm Direct Marketing & Farm to School programs were eliminated.

VICTORY! Women, Infants and Children/Farmers Market Nutrition Program was saved from elimination and had its 2nd year state funding preserved through efforts of LPPO and other hunger and sustainable agriculture advocates.

Thank you!

Thanks to all the advocates who responded to this alert during this year’s session.  In these difficult times there still were victories, and though drastic cuts were made to critical programs for the most vulnerable, many programs, through the efforts of many faithful advocates, were preserved.

Advocacy Jam and Jammin’ for Advocacy – Thanks also to all who joined us in Port Angeles and in Seattle for two major fundraising events last weekend.  Together we raised over $36,000 for the work of Advocacy and Congregational Organizing!  And we were a visible sign of faithful advocates working to preserve the Common Good!

Every Congregation has a story

LPPO Director, Rev. Paul Benz, presents an Advocating Congregation certificate to a congregational Representative at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Olympia, WA.

Once a month the LPPO will feature two of its advocating congregations. A “Congregation of the Month,” will be highlighted, as well as a “New Advocating Congregation.”

Check back regularly to hear about other congregation’s stories.

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