Republicans like U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse browbeat Democrats in and out of Olympia and Washington, D.C., for spending on popular populist agendas.
During the pandemic, the Democrats in Washington, D.C., responded to the needs of all Americans spiraling from years of Republican budget cuts, wrong priorities and a recession caused by Trump 1.0 (second only to Herbert Hoover).
The ingenious Biden Build Back Better Initiative required profitable large corporations to pay taxes. This basic concept strengthened Washington state’s health care system and accessibility to Medicaid or Apple Health.
Washington State is facing a budget deficit of $15 billion or more. Washington state doesn’t have direct taxation on personal income. Large businesses in Washington are telling our Legislature to not pass a wealth tax, and Gov. Bob Ferguson appears to have balked at the idea to bridge the gap.
Trump’s wrecking ball is total elimination of services that Washington voters rely on. The cuts and eliminations are being announced in this state only 50 days after Trump took office. This could lead to hospital closures and less medical services.
Newhouse is in the 4th Congressional District and voted in favor of slashing $880 billion from the federal debt in recent Elon Musk cuts, and the continuing budget resolution on Feb. 25 gave additional authority for further cuts that will certainly impact Medicaid and Medicare, following the agenda of Project 2025. Rural people in the Newhouse’s district will be particularly hurt: 40% of which are enrolled in Apple Health or Medicaid. For those aged 19 or under, the number jumps to 70%. Elderly in nursing homes will lose their care when these Republican cuts are felt. Any unwillingness to raise revenue from where the concentration of wealth is located is not a solution. Reject trickle down economics.
Helen Nowlin
Glenoma
