I just read the article about the governor’s ideas about how to use the $1.4 billion surplus. I agree that boosting funding for education and environmental cleanup are important. I would like to suggest, however, that some funds be used to help the most underfunded program in the state.
The care of our loved ones who are no longer able to care for themselves is something that every person in the state will have to deal with at some point in their lives. Medicare and Medicade funding for the elderly and the disabled has suffered budget cut after budget cut over decades. The last time nursing homes received any kind of budgetary increase was 1998. Two years ago nursing homes did get a 4 percent increase but L&I withholding went up 6 percent, health insurance went up 12 percent, and B&O taxes were raised. More nursing homes went bankrupt in the past 10 years than any other type of business in Washington. Nursing assistants work massive overtime to make a poverty-level income. Many nursing assistants start at minimum wage, Which by the way, has been state mandated to increase seven times since 1998 and nursing homes have received no funding to cover those increases.
Compassionate, skilled people, doing back-breaking, heart-wrenching, thankless work, dealing with life and death, caring for people, our loved ones – such people deserve more than minimum wage. With a $1.4 billion surplus, I think the state should be able to help take care of its citizens who can no longer care or even speak for themselves. Governor, please think about it.
Ed Moore
Granite Falls
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