Being a parent is nonstop hard work, which makes following all the news happening in city, state, and U.S. decision-making circles challenging. Here are highlights of Washington political news from last week (May 26 – June 1) and a hint at what’s up this week. I hope you will consider taking action – reaching out to those who represent you and your family in Congress and state offices — on the issues that impact families in our state.
Washington parents pay college rates for infant care?
Let’s start with a WOW. As in ‘WOW,’ the cost of childcare in Washington. According to a new report by the nonprofit advocacy group ChildCare Aware, Washington families pay more than those in most other states for daycare — in fact, some of the highest rates in the country. The average infant tuition? $21,000 per year. The state ranks fifth on the list of least affordable child care for 4 year olds at $14,556 a year and 34th for before- and after-school care at over $5,000. The Axios report makes a stunning comparison: it found that the cost of infant care for a year in Washington is more than one year’s tuition and fees at the University of Washington. Read the report on Axios.
Fix your teen’s broken phone vs replacing it
Got a teenager begging for a new smartphone because they accidentally dropped their current one? Until very recently, you would either have to bring or send that phone in for repair (often at a cost) or buy another to track your teen. Now you can say no to “new phone” whining. It is now the law in Washington that residents have the right to repair their devices instead of tossing them. With Gov. Bob Ferguson’s signing of the state’s new “right to repair” policy into law, Washington is determined to remove the roadblocks that companies place before consumers who want to save money and reduce waste by repairing their own electronics. The governor has also signed a right-to-repair bill focused on wheelchairs and mobility scooters. For more on this story, check out this report from Washington State Standard.
Share your Medicaid story
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed what President Donald Trump has labeled his “big beautiful bill,” which incorporates his second-term conservative agenda and billions in government cuts. The bill now moves on to the Senate. If approved there, the federal Medicaid program would be cut by $700 billion over the next decade.
According to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Bothell), 47% of children, one in six adults, and three in eight people with disabilities utilize Apple Health, Washington’s Medicaid program. Estimates suggest that at least 194,000 residents may lose their health coverage if the cuts are approved, and the state could lose about $2 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years.
This week, the statewide children’s advocacy organization Children’s Alliance is calling on Washington parents at risk of losing Medicaid coverage or those whose families have benefitted from Apple Health in the past to share their stories of how the program impacted them – financially, emotionally, in terms of their sense of security, or otherwise.
Take action: Click here to share your Medicaid story with the Children’s Alliance. Remember, your lawmakers serve you. Before the Senate starts debate on the bill, share your opinion with Washington Sen. Patty Murray at (202) 224-2621 or murray.senate.gov/write-to-patty and Sen. Maria Cantwell at (202) 224-3441 or cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form.
Is SPS kicking the can down the road
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) have penciled out a balanced $1.3 billion budget for the 2025-26 school year, relying on a $26 million influx from the state, $42 million from the district’s reserve, and more than $5 million in job cuts, furloughs and other conserving measures in the district’s administrative offices. However, according to a report last week in The Seattle Times, the budgeting process this year did not address the structural issues that have led to the district’s ongoing struggle with deficit.
According to the Times report: “That means the district could be in the red by as much as $87 million for 2026-27 even before next school year starts. Without significant changes, the district administration is ‘kicking the can’ down the road, School Board Director Liza Rankin said.”
Do you have an opinion? SPS’ budget woes have been front-page news for the last three years. Do you have thoughts on this issue? I’d love to hear them. Email me: Cheryl@seattleschild.com.
Significant changes to Washington State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law
If you have kids, are expecting a baby, or have ill parents that you need to care for, you care about Washington state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. And you’ll be happy to hear that Gov. Ferguson signed a bill amending PFML law earlier this month, which offers better job protection, reduces the time it takes for claims to be addressed, expands healthcare benefit rights, and more. Here’s a look at some of the changes:
- Shorter Waiting Period: Employees now qualify for benefits after just 180 calendar days on the job, counted as of the start of their leave.
- Stronger Job Protections: More workers are guaranteed their jobs back after leave. Starting in 2026, this applies to employers with 25 or more employees and, in 2027, to those with 15 or more employees.
- Broader Definition of Family: The law now recognizes a broader range of family relationships — better reflecting the diversity of families in Washington.
- Health Coverage Required During Leave: Employers must keep health insurance going during any WA Paid Family & Medical Leave (WA PFML), even if it doesn’t overlap with FMLA.
- Higher Premium Rate: The WA PFML premium rate rose to 0.92% as of January 1, 2025.
- Bigger Weekly Benefits: The maximum weekly benefit increased from $1,456 in 2024 to $1,542 for 2025.
More police patrols and earlier closers in Seattle parks
Love Seattle’s popular beachside parks but worry about your family’s safety amid rowdy summer partying? Check out KUOW’s report this week about increased police patrols, earlier curfews, and other precautions in some of Seattle’s popular parks. They are all part of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s summer safety plan to curb rowdiness, reduce dangerous driving, and otherwise protect residents during peak park use season. Parks with boat launches are particularly susceptible to partying and increased violence, it turns out. This year, the city has set aside extra funding for evening Seattle police patrols at Alki Beach, Golden Gardens, and Magnuson Parks.
Really, City of Seattle permitters, what were you thinking?
By now you’ve heard about the clash and arrests that occurred at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill last week. A group of conservative Christian Nationalists taunted park visitors (many of them members of the LGBTQ+ community) with signs like “God Abhors You” and “the sacrality of biological gender” and a banner that read “#dontmesswithourkids.” And, of course, what with the park and its surrounding neighborhood long held as a safe place for Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community, community members and supporters counter-rallied. And, of course, things got messy as some protesters clashed with police, resulting in the arrest of 23 protesters. Come on, city leaders. What did you expect would happen when you approved the anti-gay rally at that hotbed of a location? The city should own up to its mistake and drop all charges with prejudice for all arrested protesters, in my humble opinion, not because they support or don’t support the LGBTQ+ community, but because the city should have known better and moved the initial rally to a less potentially volatile location.
Why do I include this ruckus in a column about the news that impacts kids and families? Because freedom of speech is the right of every American parent and child. But people should not be set up for failure — or violence — when they exercise that right. Further, Seattle should not be approving hate organizations that spew hate speech at children and families visiting a park.
Come on:
“God
Abhors
You??”
That’s hate speech. A true miss, city permit givers.
