Green Party of Seattle withdraws support for the EndtheDamnWars event on Saturday.

September 11, 2021, is this Saturday. Stay home and light a candle. Wage Peace.

Greens and Peace activists such as Veterans for Peace, Code Pink, Ground Zero, and others are actually peaceful.

GPSEA reverses our previous endorsement of an anti-war sign waving event. The involvement of the Boogaloo Bois in the EndtheDamnWars organization creates an unsafe space for non-violent people.

During 2020, Boogaloo adherents increasingly attended protests and riots, and they often sought to capitalize on high tensions to incite violence and chaos.

https://www.csis.org/blogs/examining-extremism/examining-extremism-boogaloo-movement

Demands of the EndtheDamnWars.org folx:

• End the Regime Change Wars
• End the Unconstitutional Military Operations
• End the targeting of Anti-war journalists, activists, and whistleblowers
• End global intelligence operations that instigate conflict
• Cut the US military budget
• Audit the Pentagon
• Stop arming and funding oppressive regimes
• Scale back the US military bases around the world
• End economic warfare

Seattle Greens agree with those stated points. We can not vet this organization’s event.

Greens do not support anarchy, civil war, or violence against cops, protesters or anyone else.

Unfortunately there actually are sociopaths who pose as legitimate activists. Those that would throw a match in a crowd simply to watch people burn. Where the Boogaloo Bois go, people get hurt.

It’s hard to know how seriously to take the boogaloo threat. Some are likely just joking when they “shit-post” about shooting cops or “yeeting alphabet boys”—killing government law-enforcement agents. But others seem serious. They’ve already shown up heavily armed (and in their signature Hawaiian shirts) at protests and at state capitols. They’ve allegedly killed law-enforcement officers, talked about throwing Molotov cocktails at cops during the racial-justice protests this summer, and plotted to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. They say they want a total reset of society, even if they haven’t thought very hard about what, exactly, should come next.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/01/boogaloo-prepare-civil-war/617683/

Wage Peace.

Wage Peace.

What are PFAS?

PFAS refer to a large class of toxic substances that have been used in manufacturing, industry and consumer products since the 1950’s. PFAS stands for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, which create impervious coatings that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate. Detrimental health effects include elevated cholesterol and other serious metabolic problems. Animals do not need non-stick coatings in their blood. These “forever chemicals” do not occur in nature and are now known to have accumulated in people, wildlife, and fish all over the world. At this point they have been detected in the breastmilk of women in the US and Canada and the CDC estimates that over 95% of US residents are carrying some PFAS in their bodies.

Health Effects of PFAS

The EPA reports that “after twenty years of biomonitoring studies of these chemicals in both serum and urine, we have an extremely limited understanding of PFAS concentrations in breast milk of women in the US.” Animal studies show the direct association of toxic effects from PFAS.

The monitoring of these chemicals in food, drinking and wastewater contamination from PFAS is not standardized in the US. Some municipalities do monitor for these substances, and because of their cumulative nature, no safe drinking water levels have been established. Strong carbon and fluorine bonds make these chemicals extremely resistant to breakdown by exposure to water or oil solvents, but the same properties make them problematic in the environment. They work well to smother fires, and are used in extinguisher foam, and can leach into surrounding water tables. As more municipalities begin to monitor for PFAS contamination, more is found.

Health effects associated with PFAS include: lowered immune response to disease, elevated cholesterol levels, thyroid hormone disruption, reproductive problems, organ damage to liver and kidneys, developmental delays, tumors in animals, testicular cancer, and low newborn birth weights.

A growing number of states have set limits on PFAS pollution in water as researchers have discovered hundreds of sites where PFAS from a variety of sources have polluted groundwater. In spite of the persistent nature of these “forever chemicals”, there are no consistent regulation from the US EPA regarding this class of highly toxic chemicals.

PFAS in the Home

The PFAS group of chemicals are toxic in extremely small amounts. Small children and pets are especially vulnerable. The Washington State Department of Ecology chemical action plan identified carpets, water and stain resistance treatments, and leather and textile furnishings as significant sources and uses of PFAS. In their report they proposed that the state advocate for safer alternatives wherever feasible and available. These determinations should be made by June 2022 and would be accompanied by proposed regulatory actions such as increasing consumer awareness and manufacturer labeling to reduce exposure.

Ecology also recommends, “Reduce legacy PFAS-containing carpet and carpet care products remaining in homes, especially in low-income households, where items may be retained past the typical product lifespan… replace PFAS-containing carpet in community centers, libraries, daycares, and other environments where children may be disproportionately exposed.”

Consumer products that may contain PFAS.

Water resistant clothing and gear. Nonstick cookware and kitchen supplies (e.g. baking paper). Personal care products (including cosmetics and dental floss). Cleaning agents. Automotive products. Floor waxes and sealants. Ski waxes. Car waxes. PFAS are used in fire retardant foam spray extinguishers, car washes, and non-stick coatings on food cartons and teflon pans, even some pizza boxes. They are all around us.

Physicians for Social Responsibility PFAS Alert

In June 2021, the Physicians for Social Responsibility reported that PFAS showed up on a list of chemicals which the fossil fuel industry had carefully “redacted” from public record for their “proprietary” nature, which they were able to learn through a “freedom of Information Act” request. These chemicals along with other aggregate ceramic compounds are aggressively pumped into the earth to extract fossil fuel laden sludge that is then transported and refined. Often this corrosive toxic mixture is going through leaking pipelines. PFAS have been identified in the water tables of heavily fracked areas in the US such as Pennsylvania and Texas and are presently putting humans, animals, and ecosystems at risk. The EPA approved their use for this purpose in 2012, despite previously known health concerns. The EPA chose to protect Industry and did not disclose the PFAS use for this purpose. Previous to the PSR revelation, the use of PFAS in oil and gas operations had not been publicized.

Politics vs EPA Scientists.

Under the administration of Scott Pruitt, a known critic of climate science, the EPA failed to define safety guidelines for safe drinking water levels of PFAS by the targeted date of 2019. When the scientific assessment did appear, the Trump administration had it edited; sources told Politico that “these alterations were so alarming that several of the career EPA scientists who spent years working on the study have asked that their names be removed from the document.”

Conflicting information from the EPA, FDA, and CDC undermines their collective scientific credibility. With vague recommendations but no industry accountability in their action plan, this is concerning.

PFAS Action Act of 2021, brought by Michigan’s Debbie Dingell, passed in the 117th Congress this July and goes to the Senate next. The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate the PFAS perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as a hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, thereby requiring remediation of releases of those PFAS into the environment. Within five years, the EPA must determine whether the remaining PFAS should be designated as hazardous substances.

The Cumulative effect of Toxic Substances on the Nation’s Health.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR] states: “CDC/ATSDR recognizes that exposure to high levels of PFAS may impact the immune system. There is evidence from human and animal studies that PFAS exposure may reduce antibody responses to vaccines.”

Competing interests of Extractive Capitalism and Life on Earth are also evidenced in the continued use of glyphosate in the US after it was listed as a human carcinogen in 2015. Experts from 11 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] to assess the carcinogenicity of the organophosphate pesticides tetrachlorvinphos, parathion, malathion, diazinon, and glyphosate. These substances kill the soil biome which is also a vastly under appreciated carbon and greenhouse gas sink and it also has a cumulative effect on mineral absorption of roots that depletes our health further with less nutritious foods.

An Environmental Research article from April 2021 notes that “the burning of fossil fuels — especially coal, petrol, and diesel — is a major source of airborne fine particulate matter, and a key contributor to the global burden of mortality and disease. Fossil fuel combustion can be more readily controlled than other sources and precursors such as dust or wildfire smoke, so this is a clear message to policymakers and stakeholders to further incentivize a shift to clean sources of energy.”

Accountability.

Across the United States, occurrence data is collected to assess the highest priority drinking water contaminants most problematic for human health, as part of its responsibilities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This plan came into the fore after water contamination in Flint, Michigan became public. The Monitoring Program for Unregulated Contaminants occurs every 5 years. Action plans focus on decreasing public risk and cost benefit, but these plans have no teeth if the public is not educated and industry is not accountable.

The Department of Ecology scientists setting forth goals to protect water here in Washington State, and their action plan does move us closer to safety. However, one wonders why the contaminants remain Unregulated at the national level? Who does the EPA protect?

SEATTLE, Washington (August 18, 2021) – Green Party of Seattle endorses the House Our Neighbors [HON] Opposition Statement to Charter Amendment 29. HON is a coalition of advocates who are committed to ending the homelessness crisis in Seattle. The Green Party of Seattle is opposed to the ‘Sweeps’ of homeless encampments, which is a practice that Charter Amendment 29 would allow to continue; Green support for the HON opposition statement focused on that point.

Charter Amendment 29 as proposed by “Compassion Seattle”, a group of concerned business owners, commercial property investors and individuals, contains language around support for addressing ‘Behavioral Health’ issues and building new low-cost housing as if this is the primary cause of homelessness, but their ‘solutions’ do not reflect a true depth of understanding about the problem.

Green Party of Seattle [GPSEA] rejects City of Seattle Charter Amendment 29 on the grounds that it does not sufficiently address root causes of homelessness. We agree that ‘Behavioral Health’ services that address mental hygiene and addiction should be available to all, but this does not put people indoors or give them a safe place to sleep at night.

We recognize that concerned business owners, property investors, and individuals who fund the ‘Compassion Seattle’ charter amendment initiative are important economic stakeholders in Seattle and we empathize with their distress over encampments of homeless folx that take up residence in commercial areas. Obviously, it does not look pretty to tourists, and this is bad for their cash flow. However, this does not motivate compassion.

As an unfunded mandate that proposes 2,000 new low-income residences, it is a drop in the bottomless bucket of housing inequality that exists here in Seattle. What residents and tourists see as encampments on the street is only the tip of the iceberg here. The ‘Invisible Homeless’ have run out of economic capital to afford independent housing but still have enough ‘social capital’ to stay with friends and family in spare rooms, couches, basements, garages, and driveways.

We live in a city where most infrastructure-related workers with families cannot afford homes. This means that the majority of Teachers, Nurses, Union Labor, Utility Workers, and First Responders that work here are commuters. This will not make our city a more secure place during an Earthquake, for instance. We will not be able to ‘Program’ or ‘Sales Funnel’ ourselves out of the rubble.

GPSEA is in complete solidarity with this statement from HON:

“People are unhoused because our region has failed to build enough permanently affordable housing after decades of steady population growth. Compassion Seattle is focused on blaming addiction and mental illness for homelessness. We know that homelessness is a result of greater problems: stagnant wages, job loss, skyrocketing rent, high barriers to healthcare, housing and/or workforce discrimination, and a diminishing safety net. The solution is permanent low-cost housing and supportive services.”

https://www.houseourneighbors.org/opposition-statement

Real-world solutions to Housing Security include Rent Control, Progressive Taxation, and Deeply Affordable Housing. Green Party of Seattle has opposed ‘Sweeps’ since 2017 when party membership was unanimous on that particular point.

Additionally, the practice of funding non-profits to distribute tents, sleeping bags, and blankets to people as ‘outreach’ services and then taking those things away from them during ‘Sweeps’ is wasteful and ludicrous. It is a dysfunctional cycle that perpetuates lack, insecurity, and further social trauma. Public access to safe restrooms, garbage disposal, running water, and sanitation during both a homelessness crisis and a Pandemic is how business owners could be much more helpful to our unhoused neighbors.

The Green Party of Seattle [GPSEA] is a growing group of Ecosocialists in the PNW. Greens are an Alternative Political Party, invested in a Regenerative future for Seattle and King County. Ecosocialism is a vision of a transformed society in harmony with nature, along with the development of regenerative practices that can attain it. It is directed toward alternatives to all socially and ecologically destructive systems, such as patriarchy, racism, homophobia, transphobia, wars for profit, the commodification of human beings, extractive capitalism, and the fossil-fuel-based economics of War and Wall Street.

Greens and Allies, walk with us! Meeting at the Westlake monorail station at 12:45pm. Wear something green. You will see a short lady holding up a very tall sunflower!

REMINDER — 

It all starts with you.

The Green Party of Washington State is one of the many sponsors of the #M4M4ALL [March for Medicare for All] which takes place in cities and towns all over the country this Saturday, July 24, 2021.

The Green Party of Washington State strongly urges all Green Party members and supporters to get involved!

The Green Party supports single-payer universal health care and preventive care for all. We believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. Single-payer universal healthcare has been in our platform since 2000. This has not changed.

What has changed is that now an overwhelming majority of US residents agree with us. Unfortunately, elected politicians from the major parties are reluctant to go against a powerful corporate healthcare system that favors dollars over public health.

The COVID-19 pandemic taught people that human life is worth more than clickbait. So many people want Medicare for All right now that a critical mass of us are about to take to the streets.

Take action! Join us at the march! Join this massive grassroots effort. Together, we will win!

The Seattle march will start at Westlake Park and end at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater. More Speakers will convene at the Mural Stage behind the space needle. Registration Details are here: https://www.mobilize.us/marchformedicareforallm4m4all-1/event/388622/

Seattle march details: Green Allies meet up at 12:45 PM at the Westlake monorail station. Visual clue: Big Sunflower. People wearing more than the average amount of Green. People coming from out of town may want to park near the Seattle Center and take the monorail to the rally start at Westlake. Also, you may want to do a park and ride, Uber, Lift or Taxi, or look on the #M4M4All website for a rideshare. We highly encourage public transportation.

Requests for Green Party Supporters and March Participants:

• Please share information and boost posts about #M4M4ALL. All of us are differently-abled, spreading the information and sharing live streams also speaks to power, and is an important act of solidarity for our organizers.
• Donate if you can, this march is people powered but money helps the cause!
• Green Party supporters should ‘be seen being Green’ and take photos and videos. Please wear a green hat, top, or scarf if possible as a visual cue. Seattle Greens meet up at 12:45 PM at the Westlake monorail station.
• [Seattle] Volunteers to set up and table outside at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre. Let us know if you can help with setting up and/or staffing our table. We will also be collecting signatures for Initiative 1362 — Whole Washington — Universal Healthcare for Washington State!
• If you have a Green Party friend in another part of the country, help them find their local March!  This is something that all Progressives can agree on, so we can bring our not Green [yet] friends too!

Mandate from the People: It is time to reject Illness for Profit and Choose Healthcare for All!

Take action! Join us at the march! Join this massive grassroots effort from several Progressive sponsors.

Together, we will win.

It all starts with you.

The Green Party supports single-payer universal health care and preventive care for all. We believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. It’s been in our platform since 2000.

The Greens are not the outliers anymore, much like the majority of Americans now believe in climate science, the majority of Americans also now agree that we need healthcare for all.

Take action! Join us at the march! As a united people, we can take on those who are working to block the will of the people. Greens are taking part, along with other coalition members in a massive grassroots effort. Together, we will win.

“This question is both simple and complex. We are a coalition of groups that are coming together to march for Medicare for All. Who is in that coalition depends on which city you are talking about. There is no one single group behind this. The list seems to grow every day. Some people are even politically homeless and simply focused on doing what they can to move #M4A forward. We are nonpartisan, but some local parties have joined in the fight! We are proud to say that this type of coming together hasn’t happened in recent memory, if ever.”

Let’s show them what Democratic Ecosocialism looks like folx, or let’s just rise above the all of the political jargon and trigger words to do the right thing for our communities and ourselves.

[This announcement is taken directly from the global federation of Greens.]

“The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference will take place from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, UK. The Global Greens will be sending up to ten delegates* to observe negotiations, represent the Global Greens and report back to our network of member organisations. Global Greens delegates will be considered Non-Governmental Observers for the purpose of the Conference.

If you are interested in being a Global Greens Delegate then we invite you review the below guidelines and then submit your application. The deadline for submissions is the 31st July 2021.

The application process for Global Greens delegates to COP26 has been designed to ensure that:

• The diversity of our member organisations is equitably represented, with at least two delegates selected from each of the four Global Greens Federations. 
• A minimum of 50% of delegates will identify as women or non-binary; 
• There is a balance between delegates who already have international negotiation experience, as well as those with demonstrated commitment to climate campaigning within their communities.

Responses to the five qualifying questions will be each graded out of five by the Review Panel, which will be composed of individuals from the Global Greens Coordination and the COP26 Working Group. The panel will grade responses without reference to the demographic details to minimise the impact of unconscious bias on the process.

After the Review Panel selects its preferred candidates, we may contact your regional Federation for further information, such as your history of involvement in Federation activities.

Unfortunately, the Global Greens can only provide minimal  support for the travel and accommodation costs for delegates attending COP26. For outstanding candidates who will be unable to fund their own travel, the Global Greens will endeavour to raise funds to support their trip. However, people applying to be a delegate should do so expecting to fund their own travel, accommodation, and other costs.

Further, the language of the Conference is English and the Global Greens is not able to pay for interpreters, so applicants should be comfortable working in English in a conference environment.”

More from the Global Greens…

• Green Party of the United States to Hold Annual National Meeting Online, July 15-18 2021
• Schedule of Events for Media Available Now

The Green Party’s 2021 Annual National Meeting (ANM) will occur online to respect public health recommendations regarding non-necessary travel and large gatherings as the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• What: Green Party of the United States 2021 Annual National Meeting
• When: Thursday, July 15 to Sunday, July 18, 2021
• Where: Online, with portions broadcast live to GP.org and social media platforms
• Theme: “Dismantling Oppression, Building Solidarity: A Green Party For Everyone”
• 2021 Green Annual National Meeting Page
• Media Credentialing Application

The gathering will occur over Zoom and other communications platforms from July 15 to July 18. The Green Party has designed the 2021 ANM with an exceptional focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training for party organizers. A team of dedicated trainers has been retained, including the consulting organization Frailty Myths. Public portions of the ANM program, including Keynote Speaker Kali Akuno, will be streamed live at https://www.gp.org/live.

The Green Party will broadcast portions of the workshops and guest speakers for free on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch for the public.

Additional media opportunities will include a press conference with national Green Party leaders hosted on a dedicated Zoom videoconference.

Online workshops and panels will be offered to convention registrants throughout the meeting. Please register on the media credentialing page if you are interested in covering program events and news conferences.

Please note: sessions requiring sensitivity and confidentiality necessary for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work will not be open for press coverage.

Schedule of Press Events

Media Must Be Credentialed in Advance to Receive Zoom Information

Time Zone: U.S. Eastern Time

Details for all events are subject to change. A final advisory with updates and speaker details will be published the week of the convention.

Thursday, July 15, 9:00am  

Press Conference welcoming media to the Green Party’s 2021 Annual National Meeting, featuring party officials and convention organizers.

Thursday, July 15, 9:00pm (estimated)

Panel Discussion following a screening of Surviving Pulse: Life after a Mass Shooting, with the producer and participants from the film.

Saturday, July 17, 8:00pm

Keynote Speaker: Kali Akuno, co-founder and co-director of Cooperation Jackson and co-editor of Jackson Rising: The Struggle for Economic Democracy and Black Self-Determination in Jackson, Mississippi

Additional Information:

• 2021 Annual National Meeting Schedule Overview (In Formation)
• 2020 Annual National Meeting and Presidential Nominating Convention Archive
• Green New Deal

Green Party of the United States

www.gp.org

202-804-2758

Newsroom | Twitter: @GreenPartyUS

Green Party Platform

Green New Deal

Green candidate database and campaign information

Ballot Access

Facebook page

YouTube

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States

Green Papers

The Green Party of Washington supports the efforts being coordinated by representatives of the Lummi Nation and others to return Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut to her home waters of the Salish Sea.

Who is Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut?

Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut is the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation name for last remaining Southern Resident Orca to be held in captivity. She is also known as “Tokitae” or by her Seaquarium slave name “Lolita”.

In August of 1970, over 50 young orcas were violently stolen from the Salish Sea and sold to aquariums.

Large pods of orcas were once rounded up in the waters of Washington State and their young ones kidnapped. Several died during capture and transport. In 1971 whaling was outlawed in the US. Only one of our resident L pod orcas remains alive in captivity. Her name is Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut.

The Captive.

For over 50 years, Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut has been held at the Miami Seaquarium, in the world’s smallest orca tank. There, in the state of Florida she is subjected to cruel and unnatural conditions, including relentless sun and heat, extreme social isolation, and exposure to dangerous hurricanes. She has not seen another orca in captivity since the 1980’s, as she is the sole survivor of the 45 orcas captured from the Southern Salish Sea in 1970.

Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut has been sentenced to a life of unjust captivity and deprivation. We as Greens, call for a compassionate release. The Green Party wants her extradited from the state of Florida and brought back to her home waters. The Lummi Nation feels it is their sacred obligation to bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut home. Orcas pods have distinct cultures and dialects. Tokitae still calls out in her native L pod language. Her mother is still alive. Bring her back home to her family.

Green Solidarity.

We, the Green Party of Washington State, in representing ourselves, our memberships, and our constituencies, support the effort to bring Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut [Southern Resident Orca] home. We call upon the Governors of Washington, Oregon, and California, and the Premier of British Columbia, the lands of which border the Salish Sea home of the Southern Resident Orcas, to sign a joint Proclamation that acknowledges the unique and iconic orca population here and the significant spiritual and cultural value for the people of the region, with protected legal rights to freedom from captivity.

Therefore, The Green Party of Washington State joins the Lummi Nation and others urging the Governors and Premier of our Southern Resident Orca territories to:

• Support and endorse the efforts being coordinated by representatives of the Lummi Nation to return Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut to her Salish Sea home.

• Call upon Miami Seaquarium, Festival Fun Parks (DBA Palace Entertainment), Parques Reunidos and EQT to agree to negotiate the terms and conditions for Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut’s release from Miami Seaquarium and safe return to her natal waters; and

• Work with representatives of the Lummi Nation and other relevant entities to secure any state permits that might be required for the return and rehabilitation of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut and her reunion with her human and Orca family.

From Lead GPSEA organizer Andre:

Hello Washingtonian Greens! For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Andre and I’m a volunteer with the Green Party of Seattle as well as the lead organizer of the Seattle March for Medicare for All, which is happening in cities across the country July 24th!

I’m really excited that the Green Parties of Washington and Seattle have partnered with the march and are already organizing with the Seattle planning team. We are all hoping to get everyone involved with the march as both participants and as leaders so here are a few ways you can get started:

1. Mark your calendar and RSVP for the Seattle March for Medicare for All on July 24th!
2. Join the “ByThePeople” Slack workspace to connect with other march organizers. You will be placed into a channel called #m4m4a-all-organizers. Once you are in, join #m4m4a-seattle to connect with the Seattle team (invite link)
3. Join the Seattle team for our weekly planning meetings to, Fridays at 6pm (invite link)
4. Join the all organizers weekly meetings on Sundays at 9am to help promote all marches across the country (invite link)

These meetings will be held weekly between now and July 24th. Everyone is welcome in the Slack and at any of the meetings so feel free to invite anyone who would like to get involved! I hope to see you there!

Health Care Is a Human Right Steering Committee is presenting a teach-in on Medicare for All and State-based Universal Healthcare on June 15, 2021:

Please join us to hear Stephanie Kang, Health Policy Director for Rep. Pramila Jayapal, explain the Medicare for All proposal and health care gains we could win in the next big Congressional package. We will also get a report on the new Washington State Universal Health Care Commission and other health care gains made in the 2021 legislative session.

Register here in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

How We Can Advance Universal Health Care in Congress & in WA State

Despite President Biden’s administration making clear it does not support Medicare for All at this time, real possibilities are emerging to advance universal, equitable, and affordable health care, both federally and in Washington state.

The potential of the next budget reconciliation bill in Congress. There will be at least one budget reconciliation package put forward this summer. A top priority of Speaker Pelosi, Congressional progressives, and the advocacy community is to include Medicare negotiation of drug prices which will generate huge savings. Progressives are also advocating to use the savings to expand Medicare to provide hearing, vision, dental benefits, and an out-of-pocket cap, and lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. These improvements will build Medicare’s popularity and the demand for Medicare for All.

Washington’s New Universal Health Care Commission is a big deal.  Governor Inslee signed SB 5399 and WA state will have a permanent, funded UHC Commission by July 25th. The UHC Commission is tasked with figuring out the preliminary nuts and bolts of a universal health care system for WA. It has a trigger to apply for the relevant financial waivers within 60 days of their becoming available.

Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Emily Randall and her House and Senate colleagues and the strength of grassroots advocates. Washingtonians could benefit from universal health care coverage sooner than  Congress will be able to pass a national Medicare for All plan. But this will require the enactment of key provisions of Rep. Ro Khanna’s federal State Based Universal Health Care Act of 2021.

— Quote from  “Washington Quietly Passed One of the Strongest Universal Health Care Laws in the Country,” The Stranger.