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Media Digest 8-31-2010

Submitted on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 12:18

In this edition, you’ll find articles on how ballot measures on the November ballot could significantly impact the state budget for years to come. You can read Children’s Alliance positions on ballot measures here. You’ll also read about two key shortfalls in the Senate’s child nutrition bill that the House can help fix when Congress reconvenes in September.

Ballot will shape state budget | The News Tribune I 08-30-2010

Washington voters could reshape the state’s budget outlook for the next couple of years, depending how they weigh in Nov. 2 on six citizen initiatives and a referendum from the Legislature. Most of the proposals would cut the flow of money into the state treasury, including two liquor-privatization efforts and a tax-rollback measure that is backed by $10 million from the national soft drink industry. But an income tax on high-earning residents, if enacted and not struck down by courts, would give the state $2.2 billion a year in future budget cycles.

Foes of liquor sales initiatives get help from beer, wine distributors I The Herald I 08-27-2010

Why The House Child Nutrition Bill Is Better For Children I The Huffington Post I 08-24-2010

The Senate's passage of its child nutrition bill, Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307), would improve upon existing child anti-hunger programs, such as school breakfast and lunch, after school food programs, and the WIC program. While the improvements to the nutritional quality of foods provided by our child nutrition programs is a strong step forward, there are two key shortfalls to the legislation that the House should consider before taking up the Senate bill when Congress reconvenes in September.

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Media Digest 8-24-2010

Submitted on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 12:21

In this edition, you’ll find articles on a new pediatric dental center opening in Seattle that aims to give more children access to dental care – a big step forward for the Seattle area, but around the state we face serious challenges to kids’ oral health. The Children’s Alliance is working on policy solutions to increase kids’ access to dental care. You’ll also read about the soda industry’s campaign to pass I-1107, which would repeal a tax on soda, and how passing the liquor initiatives would affect Washington cities.

New pediatric dental center to open at Magnuson Park | Seattle Times I 08-18-2010

Joel Berg, director of the new Center for Pediatric Dentistry in Magnuson Park, concedes that $21 million could buy a lot of drilling and filling — particularly for kids whose parents can't afford dental care. But Berg's after something bigger and more permanent with the new 28,000-square-foot Center for Pediatric Dentistry opening Sept. 1 at Magnuson Park. He wants to keep kids out of the dental chair — forever. And he's got a plan. Inside the facility, Berg intends to create a whole new model for the way dental care is now delivered to kids.

Listen to a story on the new pediatric dental center in Seattle I KUOW I 08-18-2010

Anti-soda tax campaign tops $10 mil I Seattle PI I 08-18-2010

With its second $3.5 million check in two weeks, the American Beverage Association has topped the $10 million mark in its checkbook campaign to pass Initiative 1107 in this November's election. The initiative would repeal temporary tax increases on candy, soda pop and bottled water, enacted by the Legislature last winter as it sought to close a $2.8 billion budget deficit and not axe social services. The beverage tax is quite modest, adding two cents to every 12-ounce container. It exempts bottlers whose volume is under $10 million.

In other election news, read more on how the passage of liquor initiatives would affect Washington cities I Covington Reporter I 08-20-2010

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Latest News

WE'RE IN THE NEWS: THE VALUES IN WASHINGTON STATE'S BUDGET

Posted on: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 3:29pm

Child and senior advocates teamed up today to send a joint message to Governor Gregoire and other state lawmakers: Keep Washington’s values at the core of the budget debate.

The Seattle Times published an Op-Ed co-authored by Paola Maranan, executive director of the Children’s Alliance, and Ingrid McDonald, advocacy director of AARP Washington. They write:

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WE'RE IN THE NEWS: CONGRESS SHOULD FEED HUNGRY KIDS WHEN THE NEED IS GREATEST

Posted on: Monday, July 19, 2010 - 9:06am

Right now Congress has the once-every-five-year opportunity to improve the quality of school, child-care and summer meals and make them available to more children.

The Seattle Times ran an oped by Linda Stone, senior food policy coordinator at the Children's Alliance, calling on Congress to listen to the call that President Obama and anti-hunger experts have made to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act with an increase of $1 billion per year over 10 years.

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Home Visiting Public-Private Matching Fund

Created on: Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 12:55pm

In the 2010 legislative session, the legislature approved a new public-private matching fund for home visiting, called the Home Visiting Services Account. The Account was established in the budget which can be found here. The legislature started off the fund with $500,000 (which included $200,000 in new state funds), which will then be matched by Thrive by Five Washington, the state’s public-private partnership for early learning.

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Initiative 1107 would worsen state deficit

Created on: Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 9:10am

Children's Alliance opposes Initiative 1107, an initiative to the state ballot in 2010. 1107 rolls back revenue that is supporting critical health and education services in Washington State. The campaign to oppose Initiative 1107 released this statement in response to the State's analysis of the financial implications of Iniative 1107.

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