Washington State Senate Democrats: David Frockt

Helping Minnesota follow Washington’s path in environmental protection

Senate Democrats — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:12:00 GMT

In 2011, Washington became the first state in the union to ban coal-tar sealants by passing HB 1721, which I sponsored when still in the House of Representatives. When it rains, the storm water runoff carries with it chemicals from these sealants that can be seriously harmful to the environment. I was glad to hear that Minnesota just joined Washington in banning these sealants.

I had the opportunity to work with key environmental stakeholders in getting this environmental protection into law, and I’m honored that Friends of the Mississippi River recognized me in their letter announcing the passage of the legislation:

To whom it may concern,

In a major (an unexpected) victory for water quality and public health, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill phasing out the use of coal tar sealants in Minnesota.

Effective January 1st 2014, no person shall apply coal tar sealant products on asphalt-pavement surfaces, nor sell a coal tar sealant product that is formulated or marketed for application on asphalt-paved surfaces. This bill was passed on May 20th, and is now awaiting Governor Dayton's signature.

A link to FMR's e-newsletter article on the subject is available here:

http://www.fmr.org/news/current/coal_tar_ban_passes-2013-05

The bill was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives by Representative Rick Hansen. It passed and was included in the House's version of the Omnibus Legacy Bill. The Senate version of the Omnibus Legacy Bill did not include the provision, but it survived conference committee and was in the final version of both bills. The House and Senate passed the Omnibus Legacy Bill on Monday, May 20th 2013.

Special thanks to our friends in the USGS, The State of Washington, Senator David Frockt, local sealant contractors, Baylor University, and the many environmental researchers and educators who provided the information that made this victory possible.

Trevor A. Russell

Watershed Program Director

Friends of the Mississippi River

360 North Robert Street, Suite 400

Saint Paul, MN 55101

Frockt bill to expand health care access signed into law

Senate Democrats — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:07:00 GMT

A bill to help repay school loans for health professionals who work in rural and underserved areas was signed into law today by Gov. Jay Inslee.

“This bill kills two birds with one stone,” said by Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, the sponsor of Senate Bill 5615. “There are areas in this state that lack enough primary care professionals to provide the health care that residents need. At the same time, we have students graduating from medical school with huge amounts of debt. This bill has the potential to reinvigorate a program already in state law to help repay school loans for health care professionals who work in these critically underserved areas.”

According to a 2009 survey by UW Medicine magazine, 93 percent of the University of Washington Medical School’s 2009 graduating class had student debt from medical school. Seventy-two percent had more than $100,000 of debt from medical school alone, not counting debt from their undergraduate education.

Washington’s Health Loan Repayment Program provides scholarships and loan forgiveness to health professionals, including doctors and nurses, who intend to practice in underserved rural and urban areas of our state. SB 5615 would empower the Student Achievement Council, which administers the program, to pursue additional public-private partnerships with foundations and other private sources in order to address ongoing critical health professional shortage areas.

Students supported SB 5615 at each step of the process. Anna Hackenmiller, a first-year student at the UW School of Medicine, said “Before attending medical school, I worked as a dental hygienist at the Yakima Valley Farm Worker's Clinic in Toppenish. I fell in love with the patient population and decided I would be of better service as a physician. Knowing that there is loan repayment for working in a rural area would virtually guarantee my employment in such a community.”

Danielle Micheletti, a recently graduated physician assistant in the Methow Valley, noted the challenges that recent graduates in underserved areas often have in repaying their student loans. “The loan repayment program made it feasible to move to this area where the rate of pay is less than in urban and suburban areas. I had to take a significant pay cut to accept this job. It has all been worth it though, as I love the Methow Valley and the population we serve,” said Micheletti.

"We're very appreciative of the Senator's efforts to find a way to make money, through loans, more available to medical residents,” said Dr. Nick Rajacich, President of the Washington State Medical Association. “Medical education is very costly and this is one way to help address those costs. We need to make sure that we have as many physicians available as possible - particularly in rural areas - as we move toward an expanded number of patients under health care reform. This is one piece that will be very helpful in meeting that goal."

“Health care should be accessible to all Washingtonians, no matter where they live,” said Frockt. “This bill takes a proven loan repayment program and establishes a process for it to expand at no taxpayer cost. It will enable more primary care professionals to go out and serve more areas that so desperately need their help.”

Children’s health care bill signed into law

Senate Democrats — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:54:00 GMT

A bill to protect children with a rare gastrointestinal disorder was signed into law today by Gov. Jay Inslee.

SHB 1216, sponsored by Rep. Cyrus Habib, D-Kirkland, and Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, would move the Department of Health towards mandating that insurance companies cover the elemental formula necessary to feed children who suffer from a rare gastrointestinal disorder called eosinophilia.

“It’s heartbreaking to think that a child could suffer from a major medical issue like eosinophilia and that their family could struggle to have to pay for their care,” said Habib. “Insurance companies can and should find it in their capacity to pay for medicine that sick children need to live.”

“This is a life-sustaining, life-saving medical food that some insurers have decided not to cover.” said Frockt. “This is the very definition of a necessary treatment because otherwise these children may not be able to get any other nutrients into their bodies. All Washington families need to know that the insurance that they’ve paid for their children will be there for them when they need it.”

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders are very rare. Those who suffer from the disorder are unable to breakdown proteins, meaning they must take proteins through a special elemental formula. If the treatment must be delivered through an invasive feeding tube, the expensive formula is generally covered by insurance. However, if the patient is able to swallow the formula, many private insurers will not cover the cost.

The treatment costs approximately $1,200 per month and many families have great difficulty covering the out-of-pocket cost for the treatment. Mandating insurance coverage would help those families afford life-saving treatment for their children.

The bill would require the state Department of Health to conduct a sunrise review on instituting a mandate that all insurance plans cover treatment for eosinophilia regardless of delivery method. The department would examine the impact on insurance plans and report back to the Legislature no later than 30 days prior to the 2014 legislative session and the Legislature would take appropriate action.

Jeff Schwartz, the parent of a child with eosinophilia, brought the issue to the attention of Habib and Frockt and testified on several occasions before legislative committees. Schwartz’s citizen advocacy was a major part of the effort to rally support for the bill and demonstrated to legislators on both sides of the aisle the importance of putting this protection for families into law.

“Eosinophilia is rare, but a child with eosinophilia changes a family forever,” said Schwartz. “The struggle that families have to go through is hugely challenging. Every family should be able to be confident that if their child is stricken with this rare and terrible disorder, their insurance company will be there for them. This is a basic protection. Medicaid covers it; private insurance should cover it as well. It’s only fair.”

“When people pay for health insurance, it’s reasonable for them to expect that their insurance will pay for treatment that their child needs to survive,” said Habib. “I’m glad that Jeff brought this issue to our attention and that we were able to pass a bill to help solve the problem.”

“Jeff’s advocacy was a big part of getting this bill passed,” said Frockt. “He came to me last summer. When he explained the situation, I decided that this was an easy call to sponsor. I don’t know where we’d be without people like Jeff who demonstrate what determined advocacy is all about.”

AUDIO : Gun safety issue makes brief appearance on Senate floor

Senate Democrats — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:46:37 GMT

The question of gun safety finally came to the floor of the Washington State Senate on Friday. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

AUDIO: Bills passed on Wednesday do little to reform or fund education

Senate Democrats — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:50:28 GMT

The Washington state Senate passed a package of five bills dealing with K-12 education on Wednesday, none of which moves the state any closer to fully funding public education. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Join your 46th District legislators on Saturday, March 16th for a town hall discussion on the legislative session!

Senate Democrats — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:31:00 GMT

Dear friends and neighbors,

We are holding our mid-session townhall next weekend, on Saturday March 16th. I hope you will be able to attend and share with us your questions and your feedback. Here is a link to the flyer for our townhall - I encourage you to share it with your friends and neighbors. We've copied the information on the time and the location below. Thanks so much and hope to see you on the 16th!

Sincerely,

Sen. David Frockt

JOIN YOUR 46TH DISTRICT LEGISLATORS

On Saturday, March 16th for a town hall discussion on the legislative session!

Senator David Frockt, Representative Gerry Pollet and Representative Jessyn Farrell will host a town hall:

March 16, 10am-Noon

North Seattle Community College Concert Hall

9600 College Way North, Seattle

With the 2013 legislative session halfway over, your legislators want to update you on what has happened to date and hear from you about the issues they are working on. Topics will include the budget, early learning, K-12 and higher education, environmental protection, the safety net, transportation and others. Please bring your questions and your feedback on these and other issues!

For more information call:

Sen. David Frockt: (360)786-7690

Rep. Gerry Pollet: (360)786-7886

Rep. Jessyn Farrell: (360)786-7818

Statement on Supreme Court ruling on Initiative 1053

Senate Democrats — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:23:00 GMT

Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle and one of the plaintiffs in LEV v. State, released this statement today on the Washington State Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of Initiative 1053:

“Today the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that our state constitution sets forth a clear requirement for legislation, including tax legislation, to be passed by a simple majority unless an alternative requirement is specified in the constitution.

“Our state is facing major challenges like a still-recovering economy, an underfunded educational system, massive transportation needs and yet another budget shortfall, and the elected representatives of the people should have a broad range of policy options available to them when addressing these challenges.

“A simple majority requirement for revenue legislation means lawmakers will be better equipped to examine and, if necessary, repeal tax exemptions that don't create jobs or help our state but are vociferously defended by narrow special interests. We must continue to be responsible stewards of tax dollars and do more with less, but when revenue options do come up for a vote, today's ruling means that the elected representatives of the people will be able to hold a fair vote in which every legislator’s vote counts equally.

“Working with Reps. Pedersen, Jinkins, Reykdal and others, retired Supreme Court justices and education stakeholders like the League of Education Voters and the Washington Education Association, we also set this case up to affirm a simple principle: that we live under a constitutional system that balances the rights of the people to act through their elected representatives as well as through the initiative and referendum process. Our constitution cannot be violated by a statute passed by the Legislature or through the initiative process. The people always retain the ability to hold their senators and representatives accountable for their decisions every two years. That right existed before today’s ruling and it remains in place now.

Bill to help medically underserved areas passes out of committee

Senate Democrats — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:21:00 GMT

A bill to help repay school loans for health professionals who work in rural and underserved areas sponsored by Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, passed unanimously out of the Senate Higher Education committee yesterday.

“There are areas across Washington with critical shortages of health care professionals including primary care physicians and dentists,” said Frockt. “Meanwhile, many doctors, dentists and nurses complete their medical education with massive amounts of debt. The goal here is to provide incentives to reduce that debt in exchange for working in under-served areas.”

According to recent data, 93 percent of the University of Washington Medical School’s 2009 graduating class left their program with some level of debt, with seventy-two percent of those students accruing debt of $100,000 or more. This astounding figure does not even account for the cost of their undergraduate education.

SSB 5615 would reinvigorate a program to repay the loans of health professionals that exists in state law but has been dramatically underfunded. State budget troubles have reduced funding of the Health Loan Repayment Program to the point where very few awards are being granted. This bill would empower the Student Achievement Council, which administers the program, to contract with a fund-raising entity to raise revenue from foundations or private sources. This sets the state for a revitalized public-private partnership.

The bill would also make an important clarification to the law with regard to identifying groups that are eligible. Doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals are already eligible for the currently underfunded Health Loan Repayment Program and would continue to be eligible were the bill to become law. However, the bill would expand eligibility to include medical residents choosing to work in underserved areas.

“As we move to expand Medicaid in Washington State, concerns have been raised about whether we’ll have enough health professionals to provide medical care for the 300,000 Washingtonians who will receive federally funded health insurance under the expansion,” said Frockt. “This program provides a way to leverage foundation and private funding sources to produce more health professionals working in underserved communities.”

The bill will move onto the Rules committee and if approved there, a vote on the Senate floor.

Speaking at Washington Student Association Rally

Senate Democrats — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:53:00 GMT

I was honored to be invited to speak on Monday at a rally by the Washington Student Association (WSA), and take part in their annual lobby day. Their energy was felt throughout Capitol Campus as Legislators had the opportunity to meet with students from across the state and hear more about their legislative priorities, as well as hear their personal stories about the challenges they’ve overcome in pursuing their education. During my time in the Legislature, I’ve made Washington’s students a priority. As many families across our state understand, when it comes to higher education, few are affected more directly than the students who are paying more and more each year for college, and at the same time worrying about finding a career and paying off their loan debt post- graduation.

Something I’ve communicated to all of the student groups I’ve met with over these past couple years is that their stories matter. I’ve heard from students about the debt they’ve had to take on, about their fears of whether they’d be able to access higher education at all, about having to work long hours at a job to be able to afford the cost of ever-increasing tuition.

In the past five years, we’ve cut state support for higher education in half and seen tuition double. Students and their families have faced annual tuition increases of 15% and higher, making the goal of obtaining a degree out of reach for many. I don’t understand how anyone could be expected to financially plan for college with that kind of uncertainty. This is not ok and our students deserve better.

I was privileged to work with my colleagues on proposed legislation that would provide higher education institutions additional funding contingent on preventing any tuition increases through 2015. That’s an important first step, but we also have to get a long-term funding solution in place so that we never go back to the era of double-digit tuition increases.

Although we are facing tough budget realities, we must get our higher education system back on track, and we need to start today. I’ve heard that message loud and clear from students and their families from all corners of my district and across Washington. I’m looking forward to working with students and the institutions to persuade my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give higher education the funding it needs.

(Senator David Frockt greeting the Executive Director of the Washington Student Association, Garrett Havens)

Hearing stories from homeless youth

Senate Democrats — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:58:00 GMT

On Monday I had the opportunity to meet with some engaged youth from the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. It was stunning to hear how many of them have experienced homelessness. I heard personal accounts of the enormous challenges many youth in our communities face every day and about how important it is we preserve vital services that help them get back on their feet.

One of my constituents in the group bravely shared her struggle with me. When she was 17, she found herself couch surfing and eventually sleeping in alleyways. Her sister was born with autism and her mother was driven to bankruptcy when she couldn’t cover the costs of expensive medical treatment. She dropped out of high school when finding a place to sleep at night became her biggest priority. After 3½ years of living homeless, she was able to get connected with the Seattle-based organization, YouthCare, and enroll in its highly successful barista program. This program equips homeless and struggling youth with a very specific and desirable skill set, especially in a coffee-loving city like Seattle.

An important message that she and others relayed was homeless youth often feel a sense of worthlessness, a burden to their family and friends, and they eventually lose all confidence. With help from organizations like YouthCare, and training services like the barista program, young people are finding their confidence again. These youth have faced physical and emotional challenges most of us never will. Like any other youth, they have ambitious goals and high standards of achievement for themselves. It is our role to give them every possible opportunity to make those dreams a reality.

I’ve been proud to work on legislation with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance for the past two years. We passed the Fair Tenant Screening Act last year and were able to protect key social safety net services like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Disability Lifeline, and funding the Housing Trust Fund. I also worked with my colleagues on a document recording fee assessed by county auditors to help communities protect critical funding that can reduce and end homelessness in Washington.

Until our streets are not used as beds, our work is not finished. I am committed to finding more solutions that protect our most vulnerable population and look forward to working with the coalition throughout this session and in the future.