WFSE/AFSCME OPPOSES HEALTH INSURANCE TAKEAWAY BILL

Federation Executive Director Greg Devereux urged senators to oppose the health insurance takeaway bill, SB 5898, in a Wednesday morning hearing in the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee.



SB 5898, among other things, would adjust the state’s share—meaning your share—of health care costs. Phony “health savings accounts” would be offered, but those allowances mean higher costs.

“We do have grave concerns…,” Devereux said.

“We do not support temporarily adjusting the state share of spending on state employee, school employee and retiree benefits.”

He also opposed the health savings accounts, removal of key eligibility language and duplication of functions now performed by DSHS and the Health Care Authority.

“Our problem really now is not ideas,” Devereux said. “Our problem is a lack of funding for all programs.”

The union is willing to work with the bill’s sponsors on “ideas that result in improvements to our health care system that don’t result in takeaways,” he said.

The committee’s chair, Sen. Karen Keiser of the 33rd District, told the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Cheryl Pflug of the 5th District: “I’m not sure this is the right approach, but I’m willing to hear it (the bill).” The hearing was sparsely attended.