Senate and House lawmakers have rightly proposed budgets that raise substantial new revenue to protect some of the vital services that are helping children and families weather this punishing recession. But more revenue is needed to prevent devastating cuts to safety-net programs that, if enacted, would hurt families and pose serious threats to our state’s economic recovery.

January 13, 2010 — Gov. Chris Gregoire’s revised budget rightly protects Apple Health for Kids, Maternity Support Services and some other vital programs that are helping Washington families weather this grueling recession. But many critical investments remain in jeopardy.

The Seattle Times invited the Children's Alliance and a handful of other organizations to write an oped giving state lawmakers advice for the upcoming session.

We urged them not to turn their backs on the children and families who need them most. "If we do," Executive Director Paola Maranan wrote, "we would only create problems that become costlier to solve down the road."

The Seattle Times published a guest opinion piece by Children's Alliance Executive Director Paola Maranan and Chris Korsmo, Executive Director of the League of Education Voters. Here's an excerpt;

MILLIONS of American children were thrown a lifesaver this spring when President Obama dedicated $4 billion of federal stimulus money — including about $50 million for Washington — to shore up Head Start, Early Head Start and other programs that help low-income families find good child care and preschool options for their kids.

The Children's Alliance is humbled and amazed by a recent gift. Kids at Thorndyke Elementary School in Tukwila raised funds through the Common Cents Penny Harvest educational program. Then they chose to give the Children's Alliance a generous $1,000 grant.

Champions for Children are state lawmakers recognized by the Children’s Alliance for their outstanding service on behalf of children. Each Champion for Children provided significant leadership during the 2009 state legislative session in preserving, protecting, or advancing state policies or investments that will improve the well‐being of vulnerable children in Washington.

The Children's Alliance perspective regarding Governor Gregoire's veto of the early learning in the Basic Education Reform veto was visible in multiple stories.

May 19, 2009—Governor Chris Gregoire today vetoed the section of the Basic Education Bill (House Bill 2261) that stated the intent to provide preschool for at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds as part of the state’s definition of basic education. As part of basic education preschool for this group would eventually have been funded on a per pupil basis in the same way K-12 education is funded.