Children's Alliance News Feed

Media Digest 8-31-2010

Submitted on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 12:18

In this edition, you’ll find articles on how ballot measures on the November ballot could significantly impact the state budget for years to come. You can read Children’s Alliance positions on ballot measures here. You’ll also read about two key shortfalls in the Senate’s child nutrition bill that the House can help fix when Congress reconvenes in September.

Ballot will shape state budget | The News Tribune I 08-30-2010

Washington voters could reshape the state’s budget outlook for the next couple of years, depending how they weigh in Nov. 2 on six citizen initiatives and a referendum from the Legislature. Most of the proposals would cut the flow of money into the state treasury, including two liquor-privatization efforts and a tax-rollback measure that is backed by $10 million from the national soft drink industry. But an income tax on high-earning residents, if enacted and not struck down by courts, would give the state $2.2 billion a year in future budget cycles.

Foes of liquor sales initiatives get help from beer, wine distributors I The Herald I 08-27-2010

Why The House Child Nutrition Bill Is Better For Children I The Huffington Post I 08-24-2010

The Senate's passage of its child nutrition bill, Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307), would improve upon existing child anti-hunger programs, such as school breakfast and lunch, after school food programs, and the WIC program. While the improvements to the nutritional quality of foods provided by our child nutrition programs is a strong step forward, there are two key shortfalls to the legislation that the House should consider before taking up the Senate bill when Congress reconvenes in September.

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Media Digest 8-24-2010

Submitted on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 12:21

In this edition, you’ll find articles on a new pediatric dental center opening in Seattle that aims to give more children access to dental care – a big step forward for the Seattle area, but around the state we face serious challenges to kids’ oral health. The Children’s Alliance is working on policy solutions to increase kids’ access to dental care. You’ll also read about the soda industry’s campaign to pass I-1107, which would repeal a tax on soda, and how passing the liquor initiatives would affect Washington cities.

New pediatric dental center to open at Magnuson Park | Seattle Times I 08-18-2010

Joel Berg, director of the new Center for Pediatric Dentistry in Magnuson Park, concedes that $21 million could buy a lot of drilling and filling — particularly for kids whose parents can't afford dental care. But Berg's after something bigger and more permanent with the new 28,000-square-foot Center for Pediatric Dentistry opening Sept. 1 at Magnuson Park. He wants to keep kids out of the dental chair — forever. And he's got a plan. Inside the facility, Berg intends to create a whole new model for the way dental care is now delivered to kids.

Listen to a story on the new pediatric dental center in Seattle I KUOW I 08-18-2010

Anti-soda tax campaign tops $10 mil I Seattle PI I 08-18-2010

With its second $3.5 million check in two weeks, the American Beverage Association has topped the $10 million mark in its checkbook campaign to pass Initiative 1107 in this November's election. The initiative would repeal temporary tax increases on candy, soda pop and bottled water, enacted by the Legislature last winter as it sought to close a $2.8 billion budget deficit and not axe social services. The beverage tax is quite modest, adding two cents to every 12-ounce container. It exempts bottlers whose volume is under $10 million.

In other election news, read more on how the passage of liquor initiatives would affect Washington cities I Covington Reporter I 08-20-2010

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Legislators Recognized for Drawing the Future for Kids

Submitted on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 14:19

A crowd of children and parents gathered to
honor state leaders from western Washington on Saturday, August 14th at
the first of three Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA) Crayon Award events organized by the Children’s Alliance.

State legislators were honored for their outstanding work in early
learning during the 2010 legislative session during a stage event emceed
by Representative Eric Pettigrew (37th District) at the Early Learning
Community Fair in Seattle. At the event, six state legislators joined
community members and early learning stakeholders from across the Puget
Sound region to celebrate the importance of early learning in the lives
of Washington’s children and families and to pledge further support of
early learning in the year ahead.

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August budget cut could mean rough winter for families

Submitted on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 13:45

While there was a fair amount of media coverage about the reduction in state child care assistance announced last week, there was less attention to the single largest category of that $51 million budget cut: the loss of financial assistance for low-income parents.

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Media Digest 8-17-2010

Submitted on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 13:27

In this edition, you’ll find articles on state budget cuts to child care subsidies that provide Washington’s children with quality early learning programs while allowing their parents to go to work. You’ll also find articles and opinions on I-1098, an initiative on November’s ballot that would help fund education with a high-earners income tax.

State budget woes strike welfare program I Associated Press I 08-13-2010

Fewer people will qualify for a state welfare program that provides child care subsidies and help finding a job under cuts announced by Gov. Chris Gregoire last Thursday. She said that at least $51 million is being cut from WorkFirst, the state’s welfare-to-work program, because while enrollment continues to rise, matching funds from the federal government have remained flat since the 1990s.
Read more: Child Care Subsidies Among Gregoire Cuts I KPLU I 08-13-2010
Federal aid not stopping state budget cuts I The Herald I 08-12-2010

I-1098 would generate $11B over five years I Puget Sound Business Journal I 08-13-2010

If Washington residents approve Initiative 1098 in November, the income tax on the state’s wealthiest residents would raise $11 billion in revenue over the next five years. The state released its fiscal impacts statement for initiatives this week. For I-1098, which is supported by Bill Gates Sr., the state assumes the income tax on couples making $400,000 or more (or single residents making $200,000 or more) would generate $2.2 billion in 2012.
Read more: Q&A: Tax advice for the wealthy if voters pass I-1098 I Puget Sound Business Journal I 08-16-2010
The Wall Street Journal Is the Latest Paper to Get It Wrong On I-1098 I Seattle Weekly I 08-16-2010

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