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                                        Washington State Public Health Association
                                                                 Improving the health & safety of Washingtonians through leadership & advancement of public health

                                                                                 An Affiliate of the American Public Health Association                                                   Founded in 1935

News (blog)

Connect the Dots for Our Legislators - Public Health Matters

21-Jan-10 16:44 | laura hitchcock (administrator)

Legislators are considering a funding source devoted specifically to local public health districts and improving kids' health.  Will you support this? 

Connect the dots for your legislators now, by contacting them and expressing your support for starting to restore public health funding at the local level and positively impacting kids health.   By voting to pass HB 2388, your legislator will send a signal to you and your community that public health is as critical as police, fire and emergency preparedness.  You're also telling them what many of us already know - childhood obesity is an epidemic, and candy is not a food and should be taxed. Calling your legislator (best option) takes about 2 minutes.  Emailing (second best option) takes about one minute.

How to Contact Your Legislator:   1.800.562.6000 (Legislative Hotline).  Search for your legislator by clicking here.  Legislator emails are Lastname.Firstname@leg.wa.gov.

Message:  Please support HB 2388, raising funds for public health through a candy tax.  Invest in our public health system and keep kids healthy.  Vote it out of committee and to the floor of the House of Representatives. 

Background:  Public health has long been a core function of our government. Local public health workers do a great job protecting the public's health, including responding to H1N1, keeping our food and water safe, supporting new moms with high risks, and promoting healthy food choices and policies.  With stable funding, we can preserve these programs and help keep the public healthy.  In recent years, the state's available dollars to public health have declined to all-time lows, in part because the one stable dedicated source of funding went away, and now because of our economic recession.  This means that public health functions are on the chopping block every legislative session, with public health advocates forced to fight for every dime.  (Why don't we invest in a solid public health system? It's like taking vitamins to avoid getting sick.)   HB 2388 will raise funds through a candy tax to support public health and is a good start in ensuring adequate funds for our communities.  HB 2388 has a hearing on Friday, January 22 at 1:30 pm in a joint session of the House Healthcare and House Finance Committees.
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  • 22-Jan-10 21:13 | laura hitchcock (administrator)
    Nearly a dozen people testified in favor of HB 2388 today, including doctors, nurses, and labor advocates. Collectively, these individuals represented thousands of professionals and dozens of organizations concerned about the loss of funding to public health over the past decade.

    Members of the two committees appear to be seriously considering how to fund core public health services, given the economic recession impacting our state's General Fund.

    Connect with your legislator. Let them know how you stand.
    Link  •  Reply
    • 01-Feb-10 18:21 | anonymous
      Is there a way to find out who testified from my community so
      I can thank them?
      Link  •  Reply
      • 06-Feb-10 11:39 | laura hitchcock (administrator)
        Here is the list of those who testified (with *) or signed in:

        Signing in PRO were:



        Anatwinette Lee, Wash State Nurses Association*

        Anne Tan Piazza, Public Health Roundtable*

        Doug Levy, Wa. Recreation and Park Association

        Don Briscoe, IFPTE Local 17*

        Councilman Dave Gosset, Snohomish County*

        Rashi Gupta, Wa. Assn. of Counties*

        Laurie Jenkins, Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Health*

        Victor Colman, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition*

        Jennifer Allen, Planned Parenthood

        Dennis Worsham, Public Health Roundtable

        Dr. Anthony Chen, Washington State Medical Assn*

        Laura Hitchcock, Washington State Public Health Assn*

        Carrie Hyssen, American Lung Assn.

        Lucy Culp, American Heart Assn.

        Jennifer Munn, PH, Seattle-King County

        Sharon Ness, UFCW Wa. State Council

        Sandi Swarthout, Washington Health Foundation

        Laurie Lippold, Wa. Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

        Carey Morris, Lifelong AIDS Alliance

        Erin Dziedzic, American Cancer Society, CAN

        Tom McBride, Kitsap County

        Sarah Cherin, Healthy Washington

        Michael Transue, Wa. Academy of Family Physicians

        Candice Bock, Assn. of Wa. Cities

        Phil Watkins, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

        Kim Howard, Wa. State PTA

        Teresa Mosqueda, Children’s Alliance

        Melanie Stewart, Licensed Mental Health Counselors and Wa. Podiatric Medical Assn.

        Tamara Warnke, ARNPs United of WA.

        Misha Werschal, SEIU Healthcare 775NW



        Signing in CON were:



        Brown & Haley

        Seattle Chocolates

        Washington Food Industry

        Sisters Organize for Survival

        Radical Women

        National Confectioners Assn. (DC)

        Progressive Party

        Wa. Retail Assn.

        NW Grocers Assn.

        Association of Washington Business

        NW Food Processors Assn.

        Independent Business Association
        Link  •  Reply
 


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(206) 524-3107 www.wspha.org