“The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, has said that the low-income parents should be required to work in order to receive the federal benefits that are intended to prevent them from falling through the cracks into poverty,” said McDermott. “But many of these parents can’t work because they can’t get help in paying for the child care they need due to budget shortfalls, and there are long waiting lists in many states for child care assistance…This [legislation] will ensure that millions of low-income parents can work to establish a better life for their children by working and/or getting the education needed to move up the economic ladder.”

Rob McKenna’s Monday press conference showed more than his efforts to interfere with the state budget; it was a chance for Washington’s working families to see what kind of “reforms” he would bring as governor. The plan he presented left many fearing that McKenna, as governor, would make Washington look a lot like Wisconsin.

Most states still allow insurance companies to charge women more than men for the same health coverage. The Affordable Care Act finally bans this gender discrimination.

Olympia, WA – While the talk of Olympia is currently about budget cuts and lack of funds for core services, JP Morgan Chase is continuing to draw a massive profit of state funds at the cost of low-income families in Washington.