Help increase access to food for hungry children and families

“The Act for Hungry Families,” Senate Bill 6411, will be heard in Olympia by the Senate Children and Family Services and Corrections Committee Friday, January 30, at 8:00 a.m. Washington has the unacceptable distinction of being one of the five hungriest states in America in each of the last eight years. The Act for Hungry Families will mandate lunch … Read more

Ask the Speaker not to pass House Bill 1210

House Bill 1210, this year’s version of so-called Anti-Terrorism legislation, should not pass out of the House Rules committee. We must encourage Rules committee members by Wednesday, especially Frank Chopp who is the Speaker of the House and the Chair of the committee, NOT TO PASS HB 1210. BACKGROUND: This bill would create six new felonies specific … Read more

RESTORE FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY TO FORMER DRUG FELONS

Friends: HB 1554 would restore food stamp eligibility to people who served time in prison for a drug conviction but now are clean and sober.  Background: The federal government has enacted legislation to deny assistance and benefits to persons convicted of certain drug-related offenses. Under the federal statute an individual convicted of a felony offense involving a controlled … Read more

Budget Alert

“We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied to a single garment of destiny. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly. As long as there is poverty in this world, no man can be rich even if he has a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people … Read more

HOUSE JOINTMEMORIAL 4008, OPPOSING A PREEMPTIVE MILITARY ATTACK ON IRAQ, IN HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

House Bill 4008 is a memorial petition to the government of the United States of America on behalf of the people of the state of Washington opposing a preemptive United States military attack on the nation of Iraq unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of … Read more

Lobby Days

Lobby days are a great way to learn about the issues and meet your legislators.  Our Legislators need to hear our concerns and the most effective lobbying is a personal visit from a constituent.  In the past, we have encouraged Friends attendance at the Washington Association of Churches Advocacy Day, however, due to the construction … Read more

ANTI-TERRORISM BILL, DEFEATED LAST YEAR, IS REINTRODUCED AND SCHEDULED FOR HEARING

House Bill 1210*(please see below) is a bill essentially identical to last year’s anti-terrorism legislation, which was brought to a vote in the House by majority Democrats and passed, but later blocked in the Democratic majority Senate. This year, the Senate is in Republican control. This year’s version will be heard in the House Criminal Justice … Read more

Tax Fairness Alert

As most of you are aware, FCWPP believes that reform of the current State Tax Structure is the most pressing economic justice concern in Washington State. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, the second-worst hunger problem and a $2 billion plus budget gap that will undoubtedly lead to further cuts in essential services. We … Read more

Washington State Tax Structure Alert

In November of 2001, the FCWPP legislative committee met to discuss how FCWPP could be more effective inpromoting economic justice in a time of continuing budget crisis, the consequences of which are the balancing of the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable in our society. The committee agreed that our efforts should be focused on … Read more