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.
Read more: A 50-state comparison of state income taxes shows WA would rank way, way low under I-1098 I Seattle PostGlobe I 08-27-2010
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.
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
Submitted on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 13:27
In this edition, you’ll find articles on state budget cuts to child care subsidies that provide Washington’s children with quality early learning programs while allowing their parents to go to work. You’ll also find articles and opinions on I-1098, an initiative on November’s ballot that would help fund education with a high-earners income tax.
State budget woes strike welfare program I Associated Press I 08-13-2010
Fewer people will qualify for a state welfare program that provides child care subsidies and help finding a job under cuts announced by Gov. Chris Gregoire last Thursday. She said that at least $51 million is being cut from WorkFirst, the state’s welfare-to-work program, because while enrollment continues to rise, matching funds from the federal government have remained flat since the 1990s.
Read more: Child Care Subsidies Among Gregoire Cuts I KPLU I 08-13-2010
Federal aid not stopping state budget cuts I The Herald I 08-12-2010
I-1098 would generate $11B over five years I Puget Sound Business Journal I 08-13-2010
If Washington residents approve Initiative 1098 in November, the income tax on the state’s wealthiest residents would raise $11 billion in revenue over the next five years. The state released its fiscal impacts statement for initiatives this week. For I-1098, which is supported by Bill Gates Sr., the state assumes the income tax on couples making $400,000 or more (or single residents making $200,000 or more) would generate $2.2 billion in 2012.
Read more: Q&A: Tax advice for the wealthy if voters pass I-1098 I Puget Sound Business Journal I 08-16-2010
The Wall Street Journal Is the Latest Paper to Get It Wrong On I-1098 I Seattle Weekly I 08-16-2010
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Submitted on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 14:02
In this edition, you’ll find an opinion by J.B. Pritzker, an entrepreneur who sees early learning as a lifeline for children struggling through the economic downturn. You’ll also find an article on new initiatives launched in Whatcom County to prevent dental disease – the most common childhood chronic disease.
Opinion: The Children of the Great Recession I The Huffington Post I 08-06-2010
Is The Great Recession over? Is it entering a double dip? Will the economy ever fully recover? Almost every day several economists can be heard on the business cable channels discussing these questions. Agreement is scarce. Conclusions more so. And when the TV programs end I think about one fact that we do know with certainty: Not since the Great Depression has the economic plight of the nation endangered children more. It's up to all of us to prevent this debacle.
New efforts try to prevent cavities in Whatcom County kids | The Bellingham Herald I 08-05-2010
New initiatives have been launched to curb cavities in young children in Whatcom County, including teaching pregnant women about the importance of their own oral health in protecting their babies. The efforts focus on prevention by increasing education and access to health care early in the life of a child. "It's getting them even earlier down the pipeline," said Maggi Kriger, coordinator of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry Program as well as the Oral Health Coalition in Whatcom County. Dental disease is the No. 1 chronic disease of childhood. It's five times more common than asthma, Kriger said.
Submitted on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 19:27
In this edition, you’ll read about efforts to fight crime by supporting new parents through home visiting programs. 2009 Voices for Children awardee, Laura Wells of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, joined police officers and other child advocates to report findings showing early intervention prevents future crime. You’ll also read about how time is running out for Congress to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act before the August recess – an important step in ending childhood hunger.
Law enforcement joins call to fund abuse prevention | Yakima Herald-Republic I 07-27-2010
Advocates of child abuse prevention programs, lawmakers and local law enforcement officers gathered at Children's Village on Tuesday to urge Gov. Chris Gregoire not to cut funding for local programs providing home visits to poor, young, first-time parents to give them parenting skills and teach them how to keep their children from trouble. Yakima police Chief Sam Granato and Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin explained the direct correlation between child abuse and crime. Irwin and Granato are among 4,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violent crime prevention advocates statewide who belong to the anti-crime group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Washington.
View a tv clip: Reducing violent crimes in Yakima through early intervention I KNDO I 07-27-2010
School lunch reform still alive—but in critical condition | Grist I 07-28-2010
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) called on the U.S. Senate yesterday to pass the stalled renewal of the National School Lunch Program known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Time is running out for the bill, with precious few working Senate days left before the election.
Submitted on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 14:36
In this edition, you’ll read opinions and editorials exploring what should be considered in the state budget planning process and how budget cuts affect Washington families. You’ll also find articles on state initiatives up for vote on November’s ballot. You can read Children’s Alliance's positions on selected initiatives here.
As state revenues tick upward, budget gaps remain I Stateline.org I 07-27-2010
After enduring two years of crippling budget deficits, states may have slightly better times ahead, according to a new report issued yesterday by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Nearly every state expects to collect more revenue in the 2011 fiscal year than in 2010, the report says. Still, the report paints a picture that is far from rosy, particularly as the federal stimulus program winds down.
Read more on the state budget:
Opinion: Behind the cuts are tragic human stories I The Herald I 07-24-2010
Editorial: Resetting our expectations I The Herald I 07-25-2010
Initiatives backed by corporate funds I Tri-City Herald I 07-24-2010
A Public Disclosure Commission report released Friday shows corporate, union and special interest group money has paid for the lion's share of efforts to get initiatives on the November general election ballot. I-1107: An initiative overturning the recently enacted sales tax on candy, pop and bottled water received more than 99 percent of its funding from the American Beverage Association, which has paid $2.7 million to support the measure. Of that, $1.7 million was spent gathering 395,000 signatures for Initiative 1107 in a period of about three weeks.
Read more on initiatives:
Liquor Privatization Initiatives Part 1: Washington's Current Liquor Control System I Schmudget I 07-26-2010
I-1098 Would Cut Taxes, Fund Improvements in Health Care and Education I Schmudget I 07-23-2010
Submitted on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 14:34
In this edition, you’ll read an Op-Ed co-authored by Paola Maranan, executive director of the Children’s Alliance, and Ingrid McDonald, advocacy director of AARP Washington, who sent a joint message to Governor Gregoire and other state lawmakers: Keep Washington’s values at the core of the budget debate. You’ll also find articles and opinions discussing ideas on how to address a projected $3 billion gap in next year’s budget.
- Opinion: The values in Washington state's budget | Seattle Times I 07-21-2010
- As advocates for some of our long-standing shared priorities, such as caring for children and seniors, we hope that during this process, policymakers will be guided by our state's values — that we will protect priorities like education, health care and looking out for those struggling in this economy.
- Opinion: Efficiency isn't the best way to evaluate government I Seattle PostGlobe I 07-21-2010
- As the recession continues bumping along, tax receipts are continuing to fall behind what's needed to sustain public investments in education, health care and public safety. The governor has responded with a call for "transforming Washington's budget." As this "transforming" process heats up, we'll no doubt hear a lot about making government more "efficient," like the private sector. And that should raise a big red flag, because an economist would tell you that efficiency isn't really what you want to measure when it comes to governing well.
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Submitted on Tue, 07/20/2010 - 13:37
In this edition, you’ll find an Op-Ed written by Linda Stone, senior food policy coordinator at the Children’s Alliance, urging Congress to keep kids healthy and ready to learn by reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act with an increase of $1 billion per year over 10 years. You’ll also find editorials on the questions Governor Gregoire is asking to guide challenging state budget choices.
Opinion: Congress should feed hungry kids when need is greatest | Seattle Times I 07-16-2010
Right now Congress has a once-every-five-year opportunity to improve the quality of school, child-care and summer meals and make them available to more children. Linda Stone, senior food policy coordinator at Children's Alliance, writes in support of the call that President Obama and anti-hunger experts have made for Congress to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act with an increase of $1 billion per year over 10 years.
Editorial: Fix for state budget crisis: Political courage | The News Tribune I 07-20-2010
The state budget – already a disaster last winter – now borders on catastrophe. The responsible action is exactly the one lawmakers are doing their best to avoid: Coming back to Olympia with solutions. State revenues are getting slammed from three directions. First, there’s the $480 million in expected federal bailout money the 2010 Legislature built into its budget. So far, Congress has not delivered, and there’s a big chance it won’t deliver.
Read more from The News Tribune
Editorial: Finally, real transformation? (State budget) I The Herald I 07-18-2010
Gov. Gregoire is using a set of eight questions to help guide difficult budget choices, questions focusing on fiscal responsibility (Is the service essential? Can it be provided by others? Should users help pay for it?), efficiency and performance. Answers will be useful if they provide real direction for how state government can do less overall, while protecting its paramount duty: educating the state’s children. We would include early learning and higher education as imperatives for future growth and prosperity.
Submitted on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 12:07
In this edition, you’ll read about the latest version of a U.S. House of Representatives bill proposing $8 billion in additional funding over 10 years for child nutrition programs, including school breakfast and lunch. The Children’s Alliance supports President Obama’s call to Congress to fund child nutrition programs with $10 billion. You’ll also read opinions from leading business groups supporting investments in early learning now to create a more competitive workforce in the future.
House committee passes child nutrition bill I The Washington Post I 07-15-2010
The House Education and Labor Committee on Thursday passed its version of child nutrition legislation, bringing the multi-billion-dollar bill one step closer to passage. Dubbed the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010, the bill proposes about $8 billion in additional funding over 10 years for child nutrition programs, including school breakfast and lunch. The programs have been the main focus of Michelle Obama’s high-profile Let’s Move campaign, which aims to end childhood obesity within a generation.
Top Human Resources Group Calls for Better Investments in Children’s Programs I Birth to Thrive Online I 07-13-2010
There are plenty of good arguments for better early learning in research papers and academia, but when those arguments come from the business world it’s a big step forward. Now, one of the nation’s top human resources groups has called for smarter investments in early learning in a new brief that suggests if we want to create a competitive workforce for tomorrow, we should invest in better child care today.
Read More: Opinion: Fund early education for a strong future I Puget Sound Business Journal I 07-12-2010
Submitted on Tue, 07/13/2010 - 12:25
In this edition, you’ll find information on Washington State’s lack of alternative revenue sources that other states count on to fund education and health services. You’ll also read about the challenge to provide low-cost child care to community college student parents. Most student parents access child care through Working Connections, a child care program available through the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that helps eligible families pay for child care. The program covered just 10 percent of families in 2005.
Chart of the week: How do Washington State’s taxes stack up? I Washington Policy Watch I 07-12-2010
Washington is one of seven states that currently has no personal income tax. But our state is more of an outlier than even that number would suggest — because of those seven states, six have an alternative source of revenue that Washington lacks. I-1098 isn’t going to be a cure-all for our fiscal and economic woes — there are many pieces to that puzzle. But it would be a step in the right direction for Washington State.
Child care at community colleges faces budget danger I Crosscut I 07-13-2010
The main struggle for the Center for Families at Edmonds Community College, which serves about 300 children over the course of a week, involves providing low-cost child care to student parents who need it most. Currently, more than 50 percent of the students enrolled at the center utilize the child care system through Working Connections, a child care program available through the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), helping those eligible families to pay for the costs of child care. In 2005, just 10 percent of families were covered by the program.
