Gregoire unveils health care plan

Gov. Chris Gregoire rolled out an ambitious health care initiative Tuesday that includes plans for universal access to coverage for all Washington state residents in the next five years.

The plan, dubbed the Healthy Washington Initiative, would cost an estimated $142 million in the next two years. Over time, the governor said, the goals are to rein in costs and to make sure all Washington residents have coverage.

“Quality, affordable health care is a right, not a privilege, and the Healthy Washington Initiative will make changes that bring us another step closer to serving all Washingtonians,” the governor said.

She said health care is a national crisis that cries out for a federal solution, but states are forced to step up while national politicians continue to debate and delay.

Currently, almost 600,000 of Washington’s 6.5 million residents, including 73,000 children, have no health insurance and others are underinsured, Gregoire said. They either go without adequate care or rely on expensive hospital emergency room care, she said.

The actual coverage would come from individuals, their employers or the government, Gregoire said. All three sectors have a responsibility, but the ultimate goal is to have individuals purchasing plans, rather than mandating employers to provide coverage, she said.

Global warming: Goals for dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions across Washington over the next 43 years were established by executive order Wednesday.

Gregoire wants the state to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. By 2035, she wants a reduction to 25 percent below 1990 levels; and by 2050, she wants a reduction to 50 percent below 1990 levels – or 70 percent below what is currently predicted for 2050.

Nursing support: Hundreds of nurses rallied Monday at the Capitol to support a bill that would require Washington hospitals to ease the burden on them by implementing reasonable staffing plans.

Free lunch: Legislation that would prohibit state lawmakers from accepting free lunches from lobbyists was introduced this week, then quickly denounced by legislative leaders on both sides of the partisan aisle.

– From staff and wire reports