Good afternoon, Netizens...

The Working Connections Child Care Program, underwritten and administered by Washington State's DSHS, helps low-income families pay for their child care while the parents are working. Governor Gregoire has proposed cutting this program by 30% in the current budget proposals. This would impact over 600 daycare centers in Eastern Washington, or approximately 20,000 children in more than 10,000 families and could also force the closure of hundreds of child care providers.

Most people enrolled in Working Connections are employed, but have low income levels. In this ultra-tight economy, they should be the last people to fall beneath the rolling stone of budget cuts, for without subsidized child care, most of those enrolled in Working Connections would no longer be able to afford child care, and thus probably lose their jobs. However, this does not appear to be the case according to one source within Working Connections I spoke with by phone this afternoon.

One might think that Gregoire would carefully consider the number of low-income families that would be impacted by this budget cut and carefully reconsider before she begins cutting.

What other places should our Governor consider cutting before she slashes Working Connections by 30% or more?

Dave

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