Category Archives: Health Care

Town Hall Wrap

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Ross

  Another town hall meeting. I should go back on the calendar and count how many we’ve done. These have been fun over the years and we keep fiddling with the formula. This time we had a full room so … Continue reading →

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Legislative “Progress” – Early March

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Ross

Each Legislative session has a rythym all its own. This one is waiting expectantly for something to happen. I think you’ll see a flurry of activity towards the end of the month as budgets start to get released. At the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Education, Health Care, Social Justice, Tax Policy, Transportation | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Good Deal for Washington

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Ross

One of the three key items that need to be resolved this year is the Medicaid expansion that is part of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obamacare. (The other two are the overall budget and education funding increase … Continue reading →

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Standardized Tax Rates for all Marijuana

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Ross

Rep. Reuven Carlyle and I introduced legislation today to standardize state tax rates across medical and non-medical marijuana. The medical market would now look like the setup initiative 502 put in place for recreational use. The press release we issued … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Health Care, Public Safety, Tax Policy | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Legislative Update

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Ross

We’ve gone through the first week. The governor and the state-wide officials have all been inaugurated, I fit into the same tuxedo I got married in 23 years ago for the inaugural ball, the Senate is in uproar about Senator … Continue reading →

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Budget Outline 2013-15

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Ross

In 2013 the Legislature has three big budget problems to address. It may be that there are other issues for the Legislature (gun safety, mental health, transportation…) but as the budget chair I have an odd focus on what I’m … Continue reading →

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2013 Legislative Agenda

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Ross

My agenda for 2013 is simple to outline here, but I expect great difficulties in working through it: Produce a budget that balances for 2013-15 and 2015-17, resolves the  McCleary education funding decision, implements the Medicaid expansion envisioned in the Affordable Care … Continue reading →

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Today’s speech at Redmond Chamber of Commerce

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Ross

A super crowd at the Redmond Chamber today. It was great to see everyone. I said I’d post the slides from today’s talk and here they are. WA State Budget Preview (PDF, requires Adobe Reader.)

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Workers Comp Fraud?

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Ross

The New York Times ran an article a few weeks ago that a constituent sent me for comment. He wanted to know if the same fraud occurred in Washington. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/business/some-physicians-making-millions-selling-drugs.html?smid=pl-share In some states doctors providing care under workers compensation were … Continue reading →

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Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraising

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Ross

Fortunately you all haven’t seen me looking like this in a long time. in 2005 I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. I went through a fair amount of chemotherapy and then a stem-cell transplant in 2007. It’s been five years … Continue reading →

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