We headed out in the "Pineapple Express" rain storm to get our Christmas tree and the legislature in Olympia was done and heading home before the lights were plugged in. Wow, that's was an amazingly quick session.
Wait a minute, they voted on $588 million when the shortage is $1.1 billion. That seems like solving 1/2 of the problem. It is really less than half of the short fall. They are going to cut another $27 million from the Basic Health Plan. I can't figure out how they plan to reduce the number of those enrolled from the plan other than not offering any new enrollment. The last time the wanted to reduce membership they doubled the premiums.
I must admit that where and how they are coming up with their savings does not seem like a solid foundation. There is a lot of stuff that they are hoping on like more money from the Feds, more revenues, and folks behind on their taxes sending money to Olympia (a pay now and be forgiven plan).
The big surprise is the lack of any more layoff days or pay-cuts. I'll have to wait to hear the "English" version of the new operating budget. And I'll have to wait and hear what $27 million less to Basic Health means to where I work. At this point it just seems like reducing membership but there wasn't any mention of reducing the cost of maintaining the program. Not makes very much sense right now.
More later.
Take a minute to visit Old iSkool and The Goal Farm too!
I am sticking with this hands-free data-entry device and still would like someone to volunteer to edit this blog. I'm doing the best I can but it's hard to catch my mistakes and all the times the software doesn't understand me.
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