Gov. Chris Gregoire, who headed to Washington D.C. for meetings with President Barack Obama and some top White House officials about healthcare, sent out a bit of information about what she told the President.

“The message I delivered was we need health care reform, and we need it now,” Gregoire said in a news release. “We can’t let the rising cost of health care continue to bankrupt our families, businesses and government. We have to take steps to make health care more affordable, and enhance the quality of care our families are receiving.”

How? Gregoire said some states have seen success, but that it’s “an issue that cries out for a national solution … We are a country living in fear. Many families – even those with health insurance – are fearful of a painful diagnosis, knowing that even with insurance, they’re savings might be depleted in order to receive quality care.”

During her meetings, Gregoire also summarized what she’d heard during meetings she hosted with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on the topic and discussed some reforms that have worked here, according to her press release.

As for Obama, he said the participating governors all “represent states that have done some terrific work, wonderful experiments, and have seen successes. But all of these governors also expressed to me, and I think heard from their constituencies, deep concerns about what the future holds. I look forward to working with them to get this done for the American people and for the people of their respective states in the weeks to come.”

Read Obama’s full remarks here.

Tags: healthcare reform

Here’s a state Supreme Court case involving whether public libraries can restrict what patrons are viewing on library computers.

Joe Turner has a post about it here.

Tags: supreme court

Gov. Chris Gregoire and other governors will continue their efforts in helping reform healthcare tomorrow, with meetings in Washington, D.C.

Gregoire will meet with President Barack Obama to discuss “the need for national health reform” and give him a report on her participation in the Regional White House Health Care Forum that she and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted. She’ll also meet with a bipartisan group of governors with Kathleen SEbelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, and Valerie Jarret, a White House senior advisor.

Stay tuned tomorrow for details.

Tags: healthcare

College Bound is a program that pays tuition, textbooks and fees for Washington students who meet requirements. What do you have to do? Sign up in 7th or 8th grade, pledge to graduate from high school and be a good citizen. If your family meets certain income requirements (or if you’re a foster child), that’s it: Your college education is taken care of.

But the deadline for middle school students is fast approaching: All applications this year are due a week from tomorrow, on Tues., June 30.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board reported earlier this month that interest in the program has increased, and they’re seeing thousands more applications. Don’t delay.

Tags: College Bound, HEC Board, scholarship

After a tax day “Tea Party” at the capitol — when an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people from around the state brought tea bags and signs to protest taxes — organizers are planning more events. On June 27 (Saturday), organizers hope for 6,000 protesters. And on July 4, they hope for 20,000 or more.

For all the information, read Brad Shannon’s blog post here.

Tags: tax protest, tea party

After the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced today that they expect the state to collect some $523 million less than previously forecast in the next biennium (see posts below), the responses rolled in.

Gov. Chris Gregoire directed cabinet-level agencies to reduce their budgets by 2 percent.

Rep. Gary Alexander said in a statement that the state must make bigger budget cuts.

And Sen. Joe Zarelli said in a statement that the majority party has done little to lead the state toward financial recovery.

Click through to read the entire statements. (more…)

Tags: Revenue forecast

Washington’s Attorney General, Rob McKenna, has been elected by the National Association of Attorneys General as their vice president. This means he’ll serve as president in 2011.

In a news release, McKenna said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in a role that will elevate the national awareness of issues crucial to the state of Washington, from protecting the environment, to combating gang violence and reducing the deadly impact of prescription drug abuse. This is the most active and effective national association for statewide elected officials. I’m honored that my fellow attorneys general nationwide have selected me for this position.”

Read all about it here.

Tags: Attorney General

In case you missed yesterday’s edition of The Impact, here’s your weekly reminder. On this week’s show, Jennifer Huntley looks at the Federal Way School District lawsuit. Is Washington doing its job to provide basic education to all students?

Ninety-three percent of high school seniors passed the reading and writing tests in the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL — a test that state school superintendent Randy Dorn has pledged to do away with.

The results were announced today and represent a small increase over last year’s 92 percent passage rate. Full results will not be available until the fall.

Dorn said he applauded those who passed the test, but said the state’s graduation rate must be examined. The graduating class of 2008, for example, shed about 21 percent of its students over four years. Among American Indians, about 86 percent passed the WASL, but fewer than half graduated, for example.

Dorn recently announced an initiative to move the WASL test online. That will be phased in over a few years beginning in 2010. See all the details here.

Tags: WASL