League of Women Voters of Kitsap

Health Care:
What’s Happening In Kitsap County and the State?

Lunch and Public Meeting

Tuesday, March 23
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Silverdale Beach Hotel
3073 NW Bucklin Hill Road, Silverdale
(11:30 Registration, 11:45 Lunch, 12:30 Program, 1:30 Q and A)

Speakers: Scott Bosch, CEO Harrison Medical Center
Barbara Malich, Director, Peninsula Community Health Services

Our speakers will discuss the status of health care in Kitsap County and the state, budgeting problems and the impact of health care reform whether or not it passes.

Entrée: Green Salad
Mushroom and Onion Quiche with Fruit Slices and Roasted Red Potato
Dessert: Tiramisu
Cost: $25

Reservations Required and MUST be received by Wednesday, March 17.
Send checks payable to LWV Kitsap
to Pam Hamon, 17056 Viking Way NW, Poulsbo, WA 98370.
For more information: 360-598-3508

A community partnership with The Kitsap Sun

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Tuesday’s public meeting and lunch with the county commissioners drew a lively crowd of about 75 to Country Meadows Red Barn in Silverdale.
Commissioners Charlotte Garrido and Josh Brown fielded questions on everything from park closures to raising county revenues. Commissioner Steve Bauer could not attend because he was in Washington, D.C., representing the county with the Navy League.
Lisa Ballou and other members of the Kitsap Tribabes were there to protest the planned summer closures of Horseshoe Lake in South Kitsap and Wildcat Lake in Central Kitsap, where the group usually trains for triathlons.
Brown, who represents CK, said the county faced a severe budget crisis and that closing the two parks was a revenue saver since they are expensive to maintain and do not make money.
Garrido held up an oversize dollar bill to show what portion of the property tax dollar goes to the county. It showed just 9.5 cents going to the county general fund. Another 13.3 cents goes to county roads, while the bulk of the rest goes to the state general fund, local schools and fire districts.
The commissioners said that 70 percent of their $82.7 million operating budget for 2010 goes for law and justice services. Parks, while a treasured resource, are “discretionary,” meaning they are not a legally mandated county service.
“Some of the best things we do as a county are discretionary,” Brown said.
The county has already laid off staff, cut staff hours and closed the county administration building on Fridays to save money. Last year the deficit grew from $1.8 million to $5.9 million causing a major midyear budget reduction that remains in effect this year.
It’s not easy for the county to raise revenues, Brown said. He has recently lobbied in Olympia with other county officials for the counties to have more flexibility in raising and spending a small portion of sales tax. Currently counties may raise sales tax by 1 tenth of 1 percent for mental health services. While our local legislators are sensitive to Kitsap County needs, the Legislature as a whole is so caught up in the state budget crisis that it hasn’t paid much attention to county concerns, Brown said.
Despite all the gloom, the commissioners did see some rays of hope for the future. Brown said the new YMCA to be built in CK should be a successful public-private partnership. One day he hopes to see satellite Ys in North and South Kitsap.
Garrido noted that the county will be spending $2.3 million in stimulus funds for energy upgrades including replacing single-pane windows in the old county courthouse building.
The event was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kitsap. Next month, on March 23, the League will hold a lunch and public meeting on health care from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Silverdale Beach Hotel. For information call 360-598-3508.

[caption id="attachment_121" align="alignright" width="275" caption="Commissioner Charlotte Garrido displays an oversize bill to show that only 9.5 cents of the property tax dollar goes to the county general fund."][/caption]

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From Kim Abel
League of Women Voters of Washington
Action Chair

The Lobby Team encourages you to join with our coalition partners in Rebuilding Our Economic Future by getting out to talk with your Legislators tomorrow, Saturday. The information below comes from the coalition, but just as important, League members can help encourage a civil discussion with our elected officials. Show up, wear your League pin and be great role models.

Over the next three weeks, our elected officials in Olympia will face tough decisions about how to close the state’s budget deficit. After billions in cuts last year, the estimated $2.8 billion dollar deficit for 2010 threatens vital programs that protect the health and well being of children and families in Washington state.

This Saturday, February 20, is your chance to speak with legislators directly about proposed cuts to child welfare services, education, and children’s health, as well as bills before the legislature. Legislators from across the state are taking time off from the session to hold town hall meetings in their home districts.

These town hall meetings are a rare chance to influence your legislators mid-session while they are still working out the details of critical legislation, including the budget. By urging legislators to look at all revenue options before cutting programs, you can ensure that vital social and educational services are protected.

At the height of the legislative session, your elected leaders are looking for ideas and stories from constituents to take back to Olympia. Your local town hall meeting is an important venue to advocate for the needs of kids and families in Washington!

If you are interested in joining friends and neighbors at a local town hall on Saturday, please see below (check with your legislator if you don’t see them listed, but let them know what is important to you):

Town Hall Meetings:

23rd Legislative District (Kitsap) – Rep. Christine Rolfes (D) and Senator Phil Rockefeller (D)
1) 9:30 – 11 AM at Bainbridge Island fire station; and
2) 1-2:30 PM at the Eagles Nest, Bremerton

26th Legislative District – Rep. Larry Seaquist (D) & Sen. Derek Kilmer (D)
1) Noon – 1:30 PM at Olympic College Student Center, Bremerton
2) 2 – 3:30 PM at Givens Community Center, Rm 1026, Port Orchard
3) 4 – 5:30 PM at Peninsula High School, Purdy

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You are invited to a public meeting with the county commissioners Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 12:30-2 p.m. at the Country Meadows Red Barn, 12169 Country Meadows Lane NW (off Silverdale Way), Silverdale. Our focus will be managing the county budget during a recession. Please come and bring your questions for Commissioners Charlotte Garrido and Josh Brown (Steve Bauer will be out of town and unable to attend). Some of the questions we plan to ask: Considering state and county budget constraints, how is the county working to improve efficiency? How is it coordinating with the cities to reduce costs and streamline services for county residents? What services were cut this year? What is the outlook for next year? If you have any questions about the event call Loretta Byrnes (formerly Payne) at (360) 509-2695 or e-mail her at LPayne43@hotmail.com. This event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kitsap and is a community partnership with the Kitsap Sun.

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Kim Abel, former Port Orchard mayor and current League of Women Voters of Washington Lobby Team Chair, sent this e-mail message out today:
Dear League Members,

Now more than ever we must stop devastating cuts to education, healthcare, environmental programs, and services for the most vulnerable. The future of our state and our economic prosperity depends on it!

This is one of those times YOU can make a difference by showing up in Olympia! This Saturday and this Monday your presence is needed. In light of increasing needs for services and lowered revenues sources hit by this terrible recession, the League needs you to make a difference.

First, this Saturday morning, the House Finance committee is holding a hearing on very important bills to help preserve services and programs important to the League. The hearing addresses Tim Eyman’s Initiative 960 (SB 6843 and SB 6130), and a bill that would close $210 million in tax loopholes, (HB 3176). The hearing is this Saturday, February 13th, at 9:00a.m. in Hearing Room A in the John L. O’Brien Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. To ensure a space, please be there by 8:15am. League Lobby Team members will be there to support planned speakers. You can help them by signing in to support the bills above and stay to show your support with your attendance.

Second, whether you can make the Saturday hearing or not, we need YOU to make a difference by attending the Rally to Protect our Future on President’s Day, Monday, February 15th. As part of the Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition, the League needs to show that Washington supports a positive, balanced approach to our state budget that includes new revenue, not just cuts.

It’s incredibly important to show up at the Capitol for these two events. It is not our usual phone call or email (although you can still do that, call your Representatives and share your support for the bills being heard tomorrow), but in this sound/sight bite era, it is very important to be present! Please call your League friends, your co-workers, your neighbors and your relatives and fill up a vehicle and join us in Olympia.

Thank you for all that you do,
Kim Abel
LWVWA Lobby Team Chair
(360) 874-6774

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Ben Brostoff, a senior at Central Kitsap High School, and Leaguers Pam Hamon and Catherine Ahl recently joined forces to register young voters in advance of the Feb. 9 CK levy election. Here’s how Ben describes the experience:

When I was approached by Kids Matter (the levy support group) to organize the student-led portion of their get-out-the-vote campaign for the upcoming school levy, I realized quite quickly that the main problem was not getting student voters to support the levy, it was getting student voters.
After a little research into putting on a voter registration drive, I started to get interested. I decided to make this my Eagle Scout project, for I doubted there could be something more worthy of the Scouts than making students into responsible citizens.
But I knew I needed experienced help, and for that my mother suggested the League of Women Voters, and said that I might contact them through a friend of my stepfather’s, Mrs. Pam Hamon.  Mrs. Hamon kindly offered the help of the LWV, and referred me to Catherine Ahl, LWV Kitsap President.  I was initially overwhelmed that such a higher up (remember, I’m just a high school senior) would even communicate with me, but Mrs. Ahl amiably guaranteed me the help of the League, and so the real work began.
I commandeered my school’s leadership class, kindly volunteered by Ms. Fox, the CKHS activities director, and set out on my project.  Soon, I encountered the roadblocks of every high school registration drive – motivating the students, making it look easy, and making sure that they met the eligibility requirements.  Unfortunately in my case, the eligibility requirements meant that I could only register a twelfth of the seniors (those who were already 18 or would be by the levy election).
But, I went ahead and started, though admittedly without great optimism. I was thankfully saved by the experience of the League members who volunteered to work with me. They came in with a smile and seemed unfazed by the students who blew us off or shot us dirty glances. In the end, I think we turned the student perspective around and we registered just about everyone we could – around 40 students, or a twelfth of the senior class.
The League members’ calm, unhurried manner was far more helpful than any advice they could have given me; their presence and experienced demeanor reassured me that this is just what happens, even with adults, and that I should not be worried or threatened by it.  So, for that simple reassurance, thank you to those who helped me with my project, and to the League at large, thank you. You may not know it, but you make a difference just by being there.

Ben Brostoff

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You may have noticed President Obama’s critique of the recent Supreme Court decision on corporate spending on campaigns during his State of the Union speech.
The League shares Obama’s concerns.
Longtime League member Pam Hamon recently wrote the following letter to the editor on the recent Supreme Court decision on corporate campaign spending:

To the Editor:
It’s a sad day for democracy and the individual voter. The Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision now allows large corporations, banks, financial institutions and unions the ability to spend, without limits, funds from their treasuries for candidate and issue campaigns. This goes against 30 years of precedence and a century of practice. Voters will need to do more homework to be sure they fully understand the issues before casting their votes because we all know money counts and manipulates.
Pam Hamon
Poulsbo

Here is the national League position on the Supreme Court decision:

Washington, DC –The following is a statement by Mary G. Wilson, national president of the League of Women Voters on the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC. The League filed an amicus brief in this case:
“The Supreme Court has made a tragic mistake. Their decision announced today in Citizens United v. FEC is constitutionally irresponsible and will surely bring about an anti-democratic revolution in how we finance elections in this country. Today, basic pillars of American democracy have been undermined – that elections should not be corrupted by vast corporate wealth and that the voters should be at the center of our democratic system.
“Justice Stevens had it right when he said, in his dissent, ‘The Court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the Nation. The path it has taken to reach its outcome will, I fear, do damage to this institution.’
“In creating a new constitutional right for corporations to spend unlimited amounts of their shareholder’s money to determine the outcome in candidate elections, the Court has unleashed into our elections tremendous sums of money from for-profit corporations that cannot possibly be matched in quantity by contributions from ordinary citizens. The only possible outcome of this is that big money and special interests will have an even tighter grip on our democracy.
“Congress and the President enacted campaign finance laws over a series of decades for a reason – to protect our democracy from the perverse influence of big money in our elections. In making this decision, the Court has ignored the best interests of the American public and our representative form of government.”

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Below is an alert and request for donations issued today by the the national League of Women Voters:

The Supreme Court has made a tragic mistake.

Their decision last week in Citizens United v. FEC has created a new constitutional right for corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates at every level of government. This throws out the protections against corporate and union spending in elections that have served our democracy for nearly a century.

In doing so, the Court has ignored the best interests of the American public and our representative form of government.

That’s why I’m asking you to make an emergency contribution so we can fight back today.

You may be asking, what does this all mean for me?

First: the Supreme Court ruling has given the green light for corporations to now intervene directly in elections — from the local school board or zoning commission to Congress and the President of the United States — taking the power away from average voters like you and me.
Second: corruption could skyrocket out of control — now that the Court has allowed unlimited corporate and union expenditures, the power of well-paid lobbyists linked with those interests will vastly increase.
Through our 90-year history, the League has fought to ensure that voters are at the center of our political process. Now we must work harder than ever before to elevate citizen voices above those of special interests and corporations.

Right now, the stakes could not be higher for people like you and me who care about open, honest government and a healthy democracy. The upcoming 2010 Census and quickly-approaching mid-term elections will shape the political landscape for the next decade — the outcome of both must reflect the diversity of our nation and NOT the pocketbooks of corporations.

We will continue to fight, despite this devastating blow to the principles protecting American democracy. And we need you with us more than ever.

As a leader in the ongoing fight to make our democracy as vibrant as ever, we will not stop, we will not give up, and we will not give in. If ever there was a moment when our democracy needed to work for all its citizens, not greedy corporations or power-hungry special interests, this is it. To succeed, we need your support.

Please, contribute today.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Mary G. Wilson
President, LWVUS

P.S. The Court’s ruling means that big money and special interests will have an even tighter grip on our democracy. But we can, and we will, fight back. Please join with us as we work to stop special interests and corporations from freezing Americans out of our government.

For more information go to www.lwv.org.

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Each month in the LWV Kitsap newsletter, the Voter, President Catherine Ahl, delivers a message to members. Here is her message from the February Voter.
In January at our Program Planning meetings we discussed why we do studies – to reach consensus, form positions, and take action. Besides contacting our members of Congress and state Legislators, writing letters to the editor is a way of taking action. Since Sept. I have seen three letters in the Kitsap Sun from our members on League positions and would like to recognize them. Fran Moyer (CK unit) wrote a letter supporting Health Care Reform, Elisabeth Bondy (CK unit) on the connection between Campaign Finance Reform and Health Care legislation, and Patsy Campbell (BI unit) on the Stupak amendment limiting a woman’s Right to Choose in the House Health Care bill.

I encourage all of you to read the LWVWA Legislative Newsletter each week during this session (Jan. 11-March 11), pick a bill or budget provision to support, write your Legislators, AND write a letter to the editor. Remember these letters are from you as an individual, not speaking for League. LWVK has over 100 members – voices. Let’s use them.

On another topic, at the annual meeting last May we approved a Study of Health Care in Kitsap County. The Health Care committee has determined that “A Report on the Adequacy and Accessibility of Primary Health Care Services in Kitsap County” is more appropriate. In order to produce this report, a variety of interviews will be conducted and need a lot of “woman power.” Please offer an hour or two of your time to Pam Hamon at pchamon@msn.com or 360-598-3508

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The League supports bills that would make the names and addresses of those who sign initiative or referendum petitions public records.
It also supports a bill that would abolish the death penalty in Washington state.
Here are the League positions on these two bills:

Support – HB 2418 – Making the names and addresses of persons signing initiative or referendum petitions public records
League position – The League of Women Voters supports openness and transparency in government and to further open government, the initiative process must remain open to public oversight.
ACTION – Please contact members of the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee (Hunt, Appleton, Armstrong, Alexander, Flannigan, Hurst, Miloscia & Taylor) and ask them to pass this bill out of the committee.
LWVWA Lobby Team Contact – Katy Sheehan, katysheehan@gmail.com, 360-250-0431

Support – SB 5476 – Abolishing the Death Penalty.
League position – The League supports the abolition of the Death Penalty. The Death Penalty is not fairly administered and disproportionately affects the poor and minorities, it is more expensive than a life sentence, the risk of executing the innocent exists, many families of victims do not wish for a death sentence, every other Western Democracy except for Japan has abolished the death penalty, and there is nothing to show that it deters violence.
ACTION – Please contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (Kline, chair; Regala, McCaslin, Carrell, Gordon, Hargrove, Kohl-Welles, Roach) and ask them to support SB 5476 by passing it out of their committee.
LWVWA Lobby Team Contact – Katy Sheehan, katysheehan@gmail.com, 360-250-0431

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