DeBolt Tells Labor Unions He Supports Medicaid Expansion

Posted

OLYMPIA — While union representatives said it’s unusual for the House Republican leader to show up at a labor conference, what’s even more unexpected is that the Lewis County politician told attendees he supports the state’s Medicaid expansion under Obamacare.

Labor leaders thanked Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis — the only politician in his party to take part in Thursday’s event — for attending the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO’s legislative conference in Olympia. 

“I think it was really a step in the right direction for him to come,” said Bob Guenther, president of the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Labor Council.

DeBolt, alongside Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, said he supports the coming Medicaid expansion for those in Washington who cannot afford private or subsidized health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Medicaid will cover a new group of adults living below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or with an annual income of $15,415 for an individual or $26,344 for a family of three in 2014.

“We’re going to celebrate this year when both Republicans and Democrats come together to fully finance Medicaid expansion,” Gov. Jay Inslee said.

Lisa Fenton, chief of staff for the House Republican Caucus, said DeBolt has previously supported the expansion but has concerns about how the state will pay for it once federal funding disappears. 

The federal government is paying 100 percent of the state’s Medicaid expansion cost for the first three years, phasing down to 90 percent by 2020.

 

DeBolt’s appearance at the event, Guenther said, should also help union leaders push their legislative agenda on the hill.

“I’m so happy he came because that’s going to help the people of Lewis County,” Guenther told The Chronicle.

Guenther said he is pushing for two pieces of legislation that relate to coal transition power because the bills would greatly affect Lewis County residents. 

Senate Bill 5298, which Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, introduced in January, provides that coal transition power does not count toward a utility’s load, or the amount of kilowatt-hours of electricity delivered in the last year. 

Proponents said the bill will help provide TransAlta’s coal-powered electric generating facility in Centralia a stable transition by taking the risk out of buying coal transition power.



But opponents said the bill would reduce clean energy investments.

The Senate Rules Committee placed the bill on second reading on Tuesday. The House Environment Committee is considering a similar measure, House Bill 1221. 

Guenther said he’d also like to see legislators pass Senate Bill 5297, which would allow utilities like TransAlta to count coal transition power toward meeting its conservation targets.

TransAlta employs about 280 people in Centralia and is one of the largest sources of tax revenue in Lewis County. 

Proponents said the bill will help keep the facility operating to maintain the stability of the electricity grid and attract buyers for its power.

However, opponents said allowing utilities to buy coal power and remain in compliance with the voter-approved 2006 Energy Independence Act contradicts the intent of the law, which was designed to promote renewable power investments. 

On Tuesday, the Senate Rules Committee placed the bill on second reading. The House Environment Committee is evaluating House Bill 1222, a similar measure.

Following conference discussions on pending legislation, jobs, transportation and education, nurses, machinists, government employees and other union workers joined together to try to influence lawmakers at the Capitol. 

“Having these legislators here today will go a long way toward passing those bills,” Guenther said.

•••

Amy Nile: (360) 807-8235

twitter.com/AmyNileReports

www.facebook.com/AmyNileTheChronicle