Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State

LPPO 2010 Summer Advocacy Alert:

Table of Contents:

1. 1. Host Your Own Education Forum

1. 2. Update on Child Nutrition Reauthorization

1. 3. How to Diminish Domestic Violence for Washington Families

1. 4. Victory on Federal Medical Assistance Percentage

Host Your Own Education Forum

In 2008 the ELCA approved “Our Calling in Education”, a social statement that affirmed the church’s “strong support for our society’s expectation that all young people have equitable access to high-quality schools.”

School funding and programs continues to be at risk due to decreasing revenue at the state level.  In this time of economic uncertainty education needs to be continually lifted up as a priority.

(This guide is provided by LPPO partners N.E.W.S)

Want to start a dialogue with your state legislators about local school money problems? Or show them that a stable, ample and equitable education funding system should be a main priority? How about raising awareness about the effects of state funding shortfalls on local students and schools?

Your community or school group can achieve all those goals and more with an effective legislative forum.

Summer is the perfect time to start planning for an event this fall, when school is back in session but before the legislative session convenes in January. Lawmakers appreciate opportunities to meet with their constituents – and maybe get some media coverage – when they’re home and their schedules are more flexible.

But even out of session, their time is precious, so it’s up to your group to make the meeting worth their while, and yours. Here are some tips to hosting a successful forum:

Communicate the importance: It will be easier to get good attendance at your forum if you’ve kept parents, teachers, students and community members informed about what’s at stake through ongoing newsletters, e-mails, meeting presentations and other means.

Planning: Start planning the forum well in advance, starting with the date of the event (check for major conflicts first) and working backwards. Assign leaders or coordinators to different tasks including site selection (it should be centrally located, easy to get to and the right size for your expected attendance); publicity and media; forum content and format; and legislator/speaker invitations and confirmations. Have a plan or a checklist and cross off tasks as you complete them.

Get the word out: Get members or subcommittees to commit to inviting specific numbers and types of people and groups. Then, start spreading the word early and often through word-of-mouth, school board and PTA meetings, community events, websites, blogs, social media, newsletters and church bulletins. Closer to the event, send a press release announcing the forum to the local media (newspapers, television and radio). Designate a spokesperson to follow up by phone and invite editors/reporters to attend and cover the event.

Make it easy and fun to attend: Provide snacks and beverages, ample parking and free child care.

Sign people in: Have attendees put their names and email addresses on a sign-in sheet. This makes it possible for your group to follow up with them later and possibly broaden your support base as well.

Prep your audience: Provide them with information about their legislators and encourage stakeholders to come up with questions and/or brief personal stories related to education funding (back up anecdotes with facts and data, if possible).

Be courteous, not confrontational: Legislators are going to be much more receptive if they feel like you’re willing to work with them, not against them.

Put it in writing: Hand out one-page position papers at the forum that clearly state your group’s concerns and goals.

Follow up: Encourage audience members to stay in touch with their legislators during the session. Provide contact information, including the names and phone numbers of the lawmakers’ staff in Olympia. And, be sure to include an article about the event in your next newsletter.

Don’t forget to say “Thank you”: Always send a thank you letter to those who took the time to participate in your forum. Thank them publicly as well in your group’s newsletter or on the website.

Child Nutrition Reauthorization

(The background for this alert comes from the ELCA Washington Office)

In an effort to demonstrate grassroots support for Child Nutrition Reauthorization, we are asking as many people as possible to call their Representative.

In short, we are asking for a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization THIS YEAR that includes at least $1 billion per year in new investments.  The House version of the bill is most active so we need you to contact your congressional representative today!

Background

Nearly 17 million American children struggle against hunger. While hunger affects people of all ages, it is particularly devastating for children. Even short-term episodes of hunger can cause lasting damage to a child’s development and put children at risk for a range of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physical problems.

As summer heats up, legislative activity is heating up on the Child Nutrition Act, the bill that authorizes all of the federal school meal and child nutrition programs.  Renewed about every 5 years, the Child Nutrition Act is one important tool in our fight against childhood hunger.

The programs in this Act – like the School Lunch Program and the Summer Food Service Program – serve tens of millions of children each day, ensuring that low-income and hungry children have access to healthy and nutritious foods.  This reauthorization is our chance to improve the quality and efficiency of these programs, as well as make sure they are reaching all those kids who need them.

To learn more about this important bill, check out the ELCA’s Child Nutrition Reauthorization webpage.

The time is now! Make a call today!

This is a critical time to weigh in on Child Nutrition Reauthorization.  We need your help to generate as many calls as possible to show Congress how important this bill is to hungry children!

Please call CONG REP NAME  at PHONE NUMBER, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak with their staffer who is responsible for Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

Sample script in support of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization

As a person of faith and as a member of the Lutheran Public Policy Office I support reauthorizing our nation’s child nutrition programs at the mark of $1 billion per year for the next ten years.  I know our country and our government are in difficult economic times, but this is not a time to maintain the “status quo” with our kids, seniors, and households who are struggling to keep food on their tables and shelter over their heads.

Please let me know if you support the reauthorization at this level.  I understand the “pay as you go” rule but believe money from other sources can be found, particularly when it is to keep people out of poverty.  Thank you for your work as a public servant.

Domestic Violence

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence is teaming up with the Seattle Mariners and Felix Hernandez to compete against 14 other Major League teams for a $200,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.

The “COACHING BOYS ON AND OFF THE FIELD” project will work with coaches around the state giving them tools to teach non-violence and responsibility to their teams. The program will focus on respect: for the game, for the player, for the team, for women and for the community.

The ELCA has long history of supporting programs that encourage non-violence, responsibility, and respect.  In its social message on community violence, the ELCA calls for programs that educate “children and adults in how to deal with anger, disagreement, discrimination and disappointment in nonviolent ways.”

Vote online at www.mlb.com/pepsirefresh Last day to vote is Tuesday, August 17, 2010

It’s fast, easy, and you don’t have to register.

While you’re there, make your voice really heard. You can vote 10 times every day.

Text “Mariners” to 76462

We know you have a cell phone within arm’s reach. Grab it now and put 76462 into your contacts. You can text 10 times a day as well!

Standard texting rates apply.

Do both daily to double your voting voice!

Victory on Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP)

Victory for FMAP funding!!  Thank your members of Congress (if they voted yes) for passage of the FMAP monies.  These are matching dollars for Medicaid eligible low income adults.  In our state, the current budget was balanced in part with this appropriation in mind – without this funding, further cuts would have been made by the governor.  Call or email your representatives at their district offices.

Senator Patty Murray             206.553.5545            www.murray.senate.gov

Senator Maria Cantwell         206.220.6400            www.cantwell.senate.gov

Rep. Jay Inslee                          206.361.0233            www.house.gov/inslee

Rep. Rick Larsen                        425.252.3188            www.house.gov/larsen

Rep. Brian Baird                        360.695.6292            www.house.gov/baird

Rep. Jim McDermott                 206.553.7170            www.house.gov/mcdermott

Rep. Adam Smith                        253.593.6600            www.house.gov/adamsmith

Rep. Norm Dicks                          253.593.6536            www.house.gov/dicks

New Email Alert Service

Lutheran Public Policy Office has recently changed its email alert service provider to Capwiz.  If you have any difficulties receiving or reading this email, please contact us at lppooffice@lcsnw.org

Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State

Our partners in Ministry:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Division for Church in Society

Northwest, Southwest, Eastern Washington/Idaho Synods – ELCA

Lutheran Community Services Northwest

Contact:

766 John Street, Suite B

Seattle, WA  98109

Phone: (206) 464-4133

Web: www.lppowa.org

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How does what we eat locally effect food supplies globally?  Join us October 15 & 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church and Pacific Lutheran Church..Keynot by Jim McDonal from Bread for the World and David Creech of the ELCA Hunger Appeal.  For more information visit lutheranssw.org.

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I attended a CIR training on Saturday, July31st @ Phinney Ridge Lutheran.  The training was led by Diakonda Gurning and Stacy Kitahata.  We reviewed a timeline of US immigration legislation, learned the correct terms for immigration status, i.e. resident alien, refugee, etc.  We also read the many old testament, new testament and Koran verses regarding our response to the stranger or aliens in our land.  Time well spent.  Kathy Long, LPPO Advisory Council member.  More events are upcoming!

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With more than 300,000 workers in Washington unemployed, it’s critical that Congress extend critical provisions that help struggling families during the slow economic recovery.

Just before Memorial Day recess, the U.S. House passed H.R. 4213, which would, among other things, extend the emergency jobless benefits millions of long-term unemployed workers are relying upon.

However, in last minute negotiations a critical provision was left out of the bill.

As part of last year’s Recovery Act, states received federal assistance through an increase in federal matching dollars on state Medicaid spending through the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, known as FMAP.  This aid has helped our state weather the impacts of the national recession by preventing damaging cuts to healthcare services and saving jobs in the public sector.  But the increased FMAP provision is set to expire at the end of 2010, a full six months before our state fiscal year ends in June of 2011.

If this FMAP provision is not extended in the final version of the bill, Washington would likely face deeper cuts to healthcare services to make up for the $435 million loss in funding at a time when more families are relying upon them.

Although it looks as if the FMAP provision will be extended in the Senate version of the bill, the legislation still needs to return to the House for final approval.

Please take a minute to click the take action button below to send an email to Senators Murray and Cantwell, along with your congressional representative and urge them to extend FMAP!

Background provided by Washington State Budget and Policy Center.

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This alert comes from the Washington D.C. Office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a ministry partner of LPPO.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and our anti-hunger partners like Bread for the World and Feeding America are planning a “week of action” during June 9-11 to generate momentum for the passage of a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

June 9-11: Call Congress!

In an effort to demonstrate grassroots support for Child Nutrition Reauthorization, we are asking as many people as possible to call their Representative this week. (For easy-to-use talking points to guide your call, click here).  In short, we are asking for a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization THIS YEAR that includes at least $1 billion per year in new investments. We encourage you to target these calls to your Representative in the House since that is where action is happening at this time.

Use this toll-free number and give them your Representative’s name to be connected to their office: 1-800-815-3740. Don’t know your Representative? Just click on Take Action and we’ll look it up for you.

Just tell them who you are, where you’re from, and your brief message in support of a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization with $1 billion per year in new investments.

Nearly 17 million American children struggle against hunger. While hunger affects people of all ages, it is particularly devastating for children. Even short-term episodes of hunger can cause lasting damage to a child’s development and put children at risk for a range of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physical problems.

As summer approaches, legislative activity is heating up on the Child Nutrition Act, the bill that authorizes all of the federal school meal and child nutrition programs.  Renewed about every 5 years, the Child Nutrition Act is one important tool in our fight against childhood hunger.

The programs in this Act – like the School Lunch Program and the Summer Food Service Program – serve tens of millions of children each day, ensuring that low-income and hungry children have access to healthy and nutritious foods.  This reauthorization is our chance to improve the quality and efficiency of these programs, as well as make sure they are reaching all those kids who need them.

To learn more about this important bill, check out the ELCA’s Child Nutrition Reauthorization webpage.

This is a critical time to weigh in on Child Nutrition Reauthorization.  We need your help to generate as many calls and meetings as possible to show Congress how important this bill is to hungry children!

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Upcoming King County Issues and Events

All levels of government in Washington are facing significant budget shortfalls and King County is no exception.  King County Executive Dow Constantine and the County Council are currently working on ways to balance the 2011 county budget, which currently faces a $60 million shortfall.  In order to limit cuts to vital criminal justice, public-health, and select human service programs, Executive Constantine has proposed a two-tenths-of-a-percent sales tax increase to go before King County voters on August 17th.  This proposal needs approval by a supermajority of the Council to be placed on the ballot.  Currently only 5 members of the 9 members council have expressed support for the measure and 6 votes are needed.  The vote will likely take place next Monday, May 24th, following a 1:30 pm council hearing.  For more information on the sales tax proposal, including a detailed list of programs that would be preserved, visit the proposal’s page on the county executive’s website.

Take Action:

County Council needs to hear from you about putting the Public Safety Sales Tax on the ballot.  Calls of support are critical!

The message: Put the Public Safety Sales Tax on the August ballot and allow the voters to decide.

Members from districts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 have expressed support for the measure need to hear a thank-you for their support.  Districts 3, 6, 7, and 9 are opposed or undecided–please urge them to put the sales tax on the ballot.  Call your county councilmember before 1:00pm Monday May 24th to relay this message.

Find your King County Councilmember on theCouncil Website:
District 1 – Bob Ferguson – 206-296-1001
District 2 – Larry Gossett – 206-296-1002
District 3 – Kathy Lambert – 206-296-1003
District 4 – Larry Phillips – 206-296-1004
District 5 – Julia Patterson – 206-296-1005
District 6 – Jane Hague – 206-296-1006
District 7 – Pete von Reichbauer – 206-296-1007
District 8 – Jan Drago – 206-296-1008
District 9 – Reagan Dunn – 206-296-1009

The Council will take action on this next week. Turn out for the hearing on Monday May 24th at 1:30 in council chambers (King County Courthouse 516 Third Ave – Seattle, WA 98104) – stand up for human services!

Washington State has one of the most regressive tax systems in the United States, a system that increasingly shifts payment for state services onto low and middle income families.  Initiative 1098, endorsed by LPPO, will help make Washington’s tax structure  more progressive while helping to ensure funding for vital social services such as education and healthcare.  More information available at www.yeson1098.com.

With only a little over a month to gather the necessary signatures the campaign needs volunteers to gather signatures. To get involved contact the LPPO office for signature forms and/or attend one of the following trainings.

I-1098 Kick Off Training
Sat, May 22nd, 10am-1pm
SEIU Local 6 office, 3720 Airport Way S., Seattle
Join us for an issue briefing and signature gathering training. Following the training, we will deploy folks out to the field for a short signature gathering shift.
Contact Erik Magnuson to RSVP or for more info, erik@yeson1098.com

I-1098 Weekly Wednesday Trainings
Every Wednesday through June 16, 6-7:30pm
Campaign office, 1914 N 34th St., Seattle
Drop in for a quick dinner, short issue briefing, and signature gathering training.
Contact Erik Magnuson to RSVP or for more info, erik@yeson1098.com

The Church Council of Greater Seattle, Lutheran Public Policy Office, Community Christian Leaders Coalition (sponsored by the A. Philip Randolph Institute Seattle Chapter) and the Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council extend this special invitation to invite you to our quarterly Faith, Labor and Community Breakfast meeting on May 27, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at Machinists 751 Hall, 9125 15th Place S., Seattle. This quarter’s breakfast is hosted by the Washington State Labor Council.

Great work is happening in this coalition! At this meeting we will debrief the 2010 legislative session and begin the work to prepare for the impact the budget cuts will have on our constituency. We hope you will join us and participate in this valuable work to support the working families in your local, church, union or community organization. For more information please contact the LPPO office at 206-464-4133 or lppooffice@lcsnw.org.

If you’ve been asking:

What does the new health care law do exactly?
How does this affect me and when?

Come learn about the law from a panel of nurses, doctors, small business owners, and others, including the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. There will be plenty of time for questions & answers.

June 3rd: 6-8 PM
Facilitated by Enrique Cerna of KCTS 9
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
1634 19th Ave
Seattle, WA

Sponsored by the Healthy Washington Coalition, a group of organizations including LPPO that share one common goal: “to achieve secure, quality, affordable healthcare for all Washingtonians.”

As mentioned in earlier alerts, 25,000 grocery store workers in the Puget Sound area are negotiating a new contract with their employers. These three big national grocery store chains, Safeway, Kroger (QFC and Fred Meyer) and Supervalu (Albertsons), are top Fortune 50 companies that pay their CEOs a combined $30 million last year. Now the companies are proposing to cut pay and crank up health care costs for workers.

The ELCA calls for the “right of workers to organize and bargain collectively” and for employers to “compensate all people we call or employ at an amount sufficient for them to live in dignity and provide adequate pension and health benefits, safe and healthy work conditions, sufficient periods of rest, vacation, and sabbatical, and family-friendly work schedules.”  This commitment has led LPPO to partner with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21 to work for worker justice in the grocery industry.

Join thousands of grocery store workers, customers, and community members signing the Grocery Worker Bill of Rights.

Check out the Bill of Rights. And then add your name as a community member in support of the Grocery Store Workers Bill of Rights. Stand UP – for a future we can all depend on.

You are warmly invited to join in a celebration of Duwamish culture and Northwest art hosted by Duwamish Tribal Services. This event is on Saturday, June 5, 2010.

Enjoy a  wine reception, and a traditional feast and live auction of valuable art from Northwest artists such as Preston Singletary and Marvin Oliver.  Proceeds from the gala will benefit Duwamish Tribal Services (DTS), a nonprofit organization that provides critical support to nearly 600 tribal members.

The full event ticket price is $75. Full price ticket includes wine reception, silent auction, traditional buffet-style dinner and live auction. Tickets for the full event ticket can be purchased via Brown Paper Tickets only beginning the week of April 26, 2010, first come, first served for the first 150 people. No dinner tickets can or will be sold at the door or at the longhouseprior to the event due to limited seating capacity.

Individual sponsor (not attending the event): $150 or more

Table of eight: $600 (first come, first served due to limited seating capacity)

Wine Reception/Silent Auction tickets can be purchased
for $30 at the longhouse at (206) 431-1582 or by cash or
check to 4705 W. Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106.

Where: Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center  Map It
4705 W. Marginal Way SW
Seattle, WA 98106
Tickets are available thru Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com

Free courtesy transportation at Seattle Parks Maintenance Facility at:

4209 W. Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA  98106

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With the House and Senate unable to agree to a budget over the course of the nine week regular session, the Governor called a special session that ended up lasting nearly a month, from March 13th and ending April 12th.  This made for a very long “short” supplemental budget session!  Throughout the session, LPPO had its usual 3 day a week presence in Olympia’s halls of power working to support heath and human service programs and meeting with legislators to support a comprehensive revenue package.  Working with our numerous religious and secular partners we had several significant accomplishments–helping to raise the revenues necessary to limit cuts while lending our voice to support specific programs.  Like 2009, the 2010 session was a battle to support revenue in the face of a recession that has left Washington State with historic deficits.  An issue exemplifying the difficult nature of this session was the victory to reform and increase funding for the General Assistance Unemployable Program.

GAU to Disability Lifeline

Nearly 9,000 people with very low incomes in Washington rely on General Assistance – Unemployable (GAU) because they are temporarily unable to work due to a mental illness or physical disability. To help them meet their basic needs, they receive a meager $339 a month. Most use this money to pay for shelters or to contribute to subsidized housing. Without the help, many would become homeless.  LPPO helped support legislation (ESSHB 2782) that renamed the GAU program to the Disability Lifeline program, to more accurately reflect the nature of the program, while also making the program more accessible and efficient.  We also worked to secure $20 million in new funding for this program that had not seen its benefits increase for nearly 20 years.  However, this success was not without compromise.  As part of the reform, a 24 month time limit (over a three year period) was implemented.  As a result 5,000 Disability Lifeline recipients are now being reviewed by DSHS staff and could be terminated by fall 2010.  This give and take occurred throughout the 2010 session.

Your Voice Is Critical

Ultimately, your voice and communication is critical to affect change and legislators.  When combined with other faith advocates across the state and across denominational and faith lines we have an even greater affect.  LPPO urges you and members of your congregation to meet with your legislators, hold candidates forums, and find other ways to remain engaged in the political process through out the year. We stand ready to help however you or your congregation choose to get engaged.  Give us a call or send us an email today!

Reduce Hunger and Poverty

• Protect School Lunch Co-Pay and Fresh Fruit and Veggie Program
  • A partial victory for Washington’s children as school lunch co-pay funds were protected and although fresh produce program’s funding was reduced, it was not eliminated.
• Expand Summer Meal Program ($250K)
  • The proposal to expand the summer meals program died mid-session.
• Protect General Assistance – Unemployable (GAU)/Support Security Lifeline bill (ESSHB 2782)
  • A partial victory—see above.
• Support the elimination of credit scoring in areas of auto and property insurance (HB 2513/SB 6252)
  • These bills, supported by the Insurance Commissioner, did not see a vote in either the House or the Senate.
• Support Home Foreclosure Mandatory mediation (SB 6648)
  • Lead by the Statewide Poverty Action Network, the effort to help homeowners in foreclosure, did not get out of the Senate’s Ways and Means committee.

Increasing the Availability of Affordable and Accessible Housing and Health Care

• Support the 30-60 Day No Cause Eviction Notice bill (HB 2484/SB 5549)
  • This effort to expand the notice given to tenants for no-cause eviction died in committee.
• Support Hate Crimes bill for homeless people (SHB 2497)
  • Under the leadership of Rep. Scott White, an attempt to expand the definition of hate crimes to include the homeless passed the House but did not get out of the Senate
• Support Tent City bill for churches (ESHB 1956)
  • Another major victory for LPPO and our allies at the Church Council of Greater Seattle, the Interfaith Taskforce on Homelessness, and the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless.  Congregations now have more legal freedom to host tent city encampments for the homeless on their property.
• Protect Apple Health Kids Insurance up to 300% of Federal Poverty Level
  • Funding was protected for the Apple Health program in the supplemental budget
• Protect Basic Health Plan
  • The Basic Health Plan is a state program to provide health insurance for low-income individuals and families.  Funding was preserved in the budget, however this funding is dependent on the state receiving federal funds in the next few months.  If this money is not received nearly 4,000 individuals will be cut from the program.  For perspective, there are currently 65,000 enrolled and a waitlist of over 105,000.

Reforming the Criminal Justice System

• Support Death Penalty Abolition bill (SB 5476)
  • Along with the Washington Association of Churches, the Washington Catholic Conference and the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, LPPO continues, as it has in past sessions, to work toward abolishing the death penalty in Washington Sate.  However, like past years, the Death Penalty Abolition Bill only received a hearing and did not get out of committee.

Caring for the Environment and Promoting Sustainable Agriculture

• Support Increase of Hazardous Substance Tax (HB 3181/SB 6851)
  • A major bill of emphasis for the Environmental Priorities Coalition and the environmental community, this proposed tax on polluting companies was defeated by special interests in the special session
• Support Safe Baby Bottle bill (E2SSB 6248)
  • An important victory for the environment and public health, the Safe Baby Bottle bill signed into law by the Governor ensures the toxic chemical BPA is not longer in products aimed at young children.
• Protect Farm to Cafeteria program
  • Another victory as funding was protected for this important program that brings fresh local produce to schools.
• Support Non Profit exemption for Farmer’s Market sales (SHB 2402)
  • With the passage of this legislation (an important victory for LPPO and our partners this session), churches or any other non-profit can now host licensed farmer’s markets on their property without endangering their non-profit status.
• Support Food Policy Council bill (SB 6343)
  • LPPO’s number one priority for the 2010 session, this bill would have established a forum to help the variety of agencies and stakeholders in Washington’s food system work together to ensure a robust and sustainable farm to food process and secure better access to local food for all.  The bill passed the House and Senate by significant margins but the Governor refused to sign due to her public commitment to reducing the size of government by closing down many state commissions. LPPO is currently working with the Governor’s office, the Good Food Coalition, and the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network on an executive order from the governor that would establish the forum while satisfying the Governor.

Advocating for Civil and Human Rights

• Support Assault Weapons Ban (SB 6396)
  • Although it received a hearing in the Senate, the bill failed to get out of committee and opponents outnumbered supporters at the hearing (including LPPO) nearly 5 to 1.
• Protect the Rights and Services of Immigrants
  • Immigrant issues were not a major focus of the 2010 legislative session but LPPO stood with advocates from around Washington at the rallies for immigration reform and in opposition to the new anti-immigrant legislation in Arizona held in Seattle on April 10th and May 1st.
• Support Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts (ESSB 6476/SSB 6332)
  • LPPO supported several bills successfully passed by the legislature that work to address human trafficking in Washington state.

Advocating for Accessible, Quality Public Education

• Close Achievement Gap and Racial Disparities (E2SHB 1418)
  • An important victory that helps to ensure that all student have the same basic rights and chance at educational success.
• Support the Handcuff Limitations bill (SB 5624)
  • LPPO actively worked to pass this bill under great leadership of Senator Claudia Kauffman–unfortunately the bill died on the Senate floor.
• Protect K-12 Funding and Levy Equalization (SB 6488/SB 6518/SB 6875)
  • LPPO supported the successful efforts of our partner the Washington Education Association to finally achieve levy equalization in Washington State.

Reforming the Tax Structure (Long Term)

• While less an issue during the course of the legislative session, the state’s desperate need for revenue saw some legislators voice support for a progressive state income tax.  LPPO is working with a broad coalition of partners to support I-1098, an initiative implanting an income tax on high earners.  Look for more information form LPPO on this issue in the coming weeks.

Generating More Revenue to Balance the Budget (Short Term)

• Support a substantial revenue package to prevent an all-cuts budget
  • As a member of the Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition, LPPO worked with dozens of like-minded organization in Olympia to help secure a $808 million revenue package, a significant victory that prevented deep cuts to health and human service programs.
• Support eliminating tax exemptions (SB 6873)
  • A disappointing issue for LPPO and our partners as the voices of lobbyists and business interests drowned out advocates’ calls for the elimination of ineffective and wasteful tax preferences.
• Eliminate the requirement of I-960, requiring supermajority of tax increases (ESSB 6130)
  • I-960, the initiative requiring 2/3rds approval by the legislature to pass tax or fee increases, was suspended by the legislature mid-session to meet the funding needs of the state.  LPPO and our partners supported this necessary measure to help protect vital services and programs.

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A big “thank you” to all who attended or sent a gift in support of our 7th annual fundraising dinner and auction on April 25th.  The evening was a wonderful celebration of the work of LPPO and our community and religious partners.  If you have not yet had a chance to donate, please consider a gift to support our ministry.  Checks (to “LPPO”) can be sent to 766 John St., Suite B  Seattle, WA 98109 or call 206-464-4133 to give by credit card.  Thank you for your support in these difficult times.

-The LPPO Staff

Local grocery workers are in the midst of negotiating a new union contract with Safeway, Kroger (QFC and Fred Meyer) and Supervalu (Albertsons).  The workers are trying to secure improved wages, protect existing health and pension benefits, and secure more dependable work schedules and paid sick leave.

The ELCA calls for the “right of workers to organize and bargain collectively” and for employers to “compensate all people we call or employ at an amount sufficient for them to live in dignity?provide adequate pension and health benefits, safe and healthy work conditions, sufficient periods of rest, vacation, and sabbatical, and family-friendly work schedules.”  This commitment has led LPPO to partner with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21 to work for worker justice in the grocery industry.  At LPPO’s annual fundraising dinner and auction last Sunday we honored UFCW 21 with our Evergreen Justice Award honoring their commitment to working for the common good.

Because an overwhelming number of grocery clerks are women (57% in the Puget Sound), community support actions will be taking place around King County during the week leading up to mother’s day (next week) to support the worker’s negotiations and call attention to the importance of employment practices that allow working moms to be caring parents.  The actions are non-confrontational visits to the stores by community members to meet with workers and store management to express support for improving workers wages, benefits, and more family friendly work schedules. This is a great opportunity to be a witness for justice in our communities.

Action Dates:

• Bellevue: Friday 5/7, 6 pm
• Renton: Saturday 5/8, 6 pm
• Seattle: Sunday 5/9, 2 pm

If you would like to participate or have any questions or concerns, please contact the LPPO office for specific locations and other details– lppooffice@lcsnw.org or 206-464-4133.

On April 10, in one of the two largest rallies across the country, over 7,000 people from across Washington state traveled to Seattle to demand that the Senate introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill be introduced before May 1.  This Saturday, events will take place in every corner of the state to follow up on this demand, to keep the pressure on to pass immigration reform in 2010, and to denounce the harsh new law in Arizona.  We invite everyone to participate in these events and demand immigration reform this year!

May 1st March
12 p.m. – Rally at Judkins Park in Seattle (map)
12:30 p.m. – March

If you would like to march with the LPPO banner, meet us in the parking lot across from St. Mary’s Catholic Church at noon.  For this and other marches, we are looking for a better pole support structure for our banner.  If you have access to one you would like to donate please contact the LPPO office.

Abolish Nuclear Weapons Rally and March

The event in Seattle, on Sunday, May 2, 1:30 p.m. will coincide with demonstrations around the world demanding that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review, which begins at the United Nations on May 3, set a firm date and implementation plan for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

The rally will include music and speakers and will begin at Seattle University’s Quad in the center of campus, south of East Madison Street.  March to Waterfront Park for more music, speakers and leafleting at 2:30p.m.  Participants are invited to bring signs, banners, floats, puppets, balloons, drums and instruments to create a festive atmosphere!  For more information, or to add your group as an endorser or co-sponsor, call Anne Hall at 206-545-3562 or email annehall@familyhealing.com.

Seattle’s budget gap this year will potentially be even greater that last year’s – at least $50 million, on top of the $40 million that had to be cut from the budget in 2009.  Anticipating the possible need to make mid-year spending cuts, the Mayor and City Council are holding two public hearing on the City budget.  The first was held on April 28th and the second will be held on May 4th.

Tuesday May 4th at North Seattle Community College Cafeteria
9600 College Way North, Seattle, WA 98103
5 pm Sign-in, 5:30 Public Hearing

Please attend and share these four basic talking points with City elected leaders:
1. Invest in people first to rebuild our economic future.
2. Given the current economic situation, many people in our city are struggling just to meet their basic needs.
3. The city must step up to “hold the line” in our investment into human services capacity.
4. Here is MY experience in how the need has increased and service capacity has decrease since the recession began in 2008.  (Share you stories of impact!)

Special Note:  The Cascade People’s Center (a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest) serves the diverse low-income community in South Lake Union and is once again at risk having its City of Seattle funding cut or eliminated.  Please mention this important program in your testimonty or communication with the City.

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After weeks of intense negotiations, the state House and the Senate leadership have agreed to a compromise budget proposal that will prevent devastating cuts to education, health care, and other essential services.  Industry lobbyists are doing everything they can to undermine this compromise during the final days of the legislative session.

If passed the revised two year budget would include more than $4 billion in cuts, but also raises $800 million in desperately-needed funding for services our communities rely on.  Unlike earlier proposals, the compromise does not include a general sales tax increase.

We have just a few days to pass this proposal. In the face of intense opposition, legislators need to hear from you that it’s time to move Washington forward.

Click on the link below to urge your legislators to support this critical compromise.

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/budgetspecial

This funding package is the minimum amount required to prevent ballooning class sizes, allow low-income students to afford college, and protect healthcare coverage for thousands of people in our communities.

This proposal would  close tax loopholes and raises some targeted taxes on non-essential goods like cigarettes and temporary increases on soda and beer. We think it makes more sense to pay a few cents more for a can of beer than deny thousands of people access to affordable health care.

Tell your legislators to stand up to last-minute pressure from corporate lobbyists and support this compromise legislation.  Click on the link to send a message.

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/budgetspecial

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Even after over two hundred thousand people marched in Washington, D.C. to convince Congress and the White House to take action, communities across the country will be participating in a national day of action on April 10th to ensure our representatives know we want comprehensive immigration reform. The Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) For America, an alliance of over 50 organizations, faith groups, community groups and labor unions, is organizing around one purpose – to achieve comprehensive immigration reform – and has been working to ensure that Washington’s Congressional delegation will support and lead on the issue.

What: Rally: Stand up for Comprehensive Immigration Reform – We Must Act Now!
When: April 10, 2010 at 12pm
Where: Occidental Park, Seattle
Why: Because we need immigration reform NOW!

If you are interested in marching with the LPPO group and our banner, contact the LPPO office at lppooffice@lcsnw.org.

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