More than 80 Healthcare Workers Sign on to Letter Opposing Initiative 2109
The NO On Initiative 2109’s broad coalition continues to grow as election day approaches. Teachers, childcare providers, parents, and small business owners who have been organizing in their communities to ensure that voters know that the measure would cut childcare and education to give a tax break to the super rich. Now they’re joined by another group of professionals concerned about the measure’s impact: Healthcare workers. Over 80 healthcare professionals so far have signed an open letter in opposition to I-2109.
The letter reads:
“As members of the healthcare community, we are against Initiative 2109. We share our concern for the well-being of our communities and the future of our state. Initiative 2109 poses a significant threat to the fabric of education and childcare in Washington State. This proposal aims to repeal a limited capital gains tax, a move that would result in staggering cuts to Washington's budget. Such drastic reductions would exacerbate the already dire funding crisis facing our schools and childcare services.
Initiative 2109 seeks to benefit fewer than 4,000 of the wealthiest individuals in our state by granting them a tax cut, while simultaneously dismantling essential funding streams that sustain our educational institutions and support systems for children. This is not just an economic issue; it is a moral imperative that calls upon us, as healthcare professionals dedicated to the welfare of our communities, to take a stand.”
One signer, Nicole Casanova, a health services consultant with a background designing and evaluating programs for youth, said that the teen mental health crisis was a big reason she is speaking up.
“We need to address the economic barriers that lead to poor health for youth and families, and that includes expanding programs that promote healthy development like special education for youth with disabilities and creating opportunities through technical and community colleges--two things that would be defunded if Initiative 2109 passes. Research shows that both our teen mental health crisis and tax burden disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. It’s unconscionable to be cutting funding for youth and schools to give a tax cut to the extremely wealthy during a youth mental health crisis,” she said.
Gleb Sych, a medical student at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima signed because healthcare workers can't do their jobs without reliable childcare. “Nurses, paramedics, techs, and more depend on programs like Working Connections Childcare to be able to go to work and care for our community. Initiative 2109 would gut the funding for these essential services, leaving families—especially low-income families—without support. Without access to affordable, quality childcare, the health and well-being of both workers and their children are at risk."
About I-2109
Washington voters will decide this fall whether or not to pass Initiative 2109, to cut over $2.2 billion in 5 years from education, childcare, and early learning to hand a tax cut to less than 1% of extremely wealthy Washingtonians by repealing the state’s limited capital gains tax on extraordinary profits.
The money raised by the tax goes to funding education, childcare and early learning. Sales of real estate, retirement assets, small businesses, and farms are exempted. It applies only to annual profits above $250,000 a year from the sales of financial assets such as stocks and bonds.
Learn more about the impacts of Initiative 2109 at No2109.org
Full list of signers:
Judith Chelotti, ARNP, retired, Buckley
Kjersten Gmeiner, MD, Seattle
Emily Brice, Deputy Director, Seattle
Gerardo Perez-Guerrero, East Wenatchee
Jennifer Youngblood, Project manager, Federal Way
Ashley Lindell, family physician (MD) , Seattle
Kjersten Gmeiner, MD, Seattle
Carol Denison , LPN4 DSHS , Lake Tapps
K B, Family Physician retired, Olympia
Mona Lee, retired rehab counselor, Seattle
Robert Brown, Mr., Fircrest
Beth Rivin MD MPH, CEO Uplift International, SEATTLE
Tara Barnes, RN, Seattle
Kathlen Schaeffer, Occupational Therapist, Montesano
Dagmar Fabian, retired, Bellingham
Sophia Keller, Registered Nurse, Seattle
Brenda Grant, MD, Aberdeen
Julie Sparkman , HCA, Spokane
Paul Buehrens, MD, Anacortes
Elinor A Graham, MD, MPH, Seattle
Elizabeth Wise, MD, Cle Elum
Lauren Lawler, Family Physician, Seattle
Matthew Logalbo, Medical Director, Seattle Roots Community Health, Seattle
Suzanne Poppema, MD, Edmonds
Ashlin Mountjoy, MD, MPH, Seattle
Katie Hester, ARNP, ND, Seattle
Karen Winchell , Retired public health nurse, Tulalip
Joseph Berkson, MD, Seattle
K Burnell Achaetzel-Hill, Family Physician-Retired, Olympia
James Lenhart, MD, Gig Harbor
Hufbauer, Seattle
Cheryl Berenson, Public health nurse; King County Medical Reserve Corps; RN, MS, MPH , Seattle.
Julie Conklin, PA-C, Seattle
Gleb Sych, Medical Student, Olympia
Paul Buehrens, MD, Anacortes
Alexis Lightner, Research coordinator, Lynnwood
Caryl Gates ,Retired nurse and medical technician, Seattle
Paul OldenKamp, Seattle Indivisible Board, Seattle
Brenda Norton, Retired Registered Nurse, Vancouver
Emily Fletcher, Diagnostic Technician, Spokane
Carolyn Riddle, Parent and grandparent concerned about education, Vancouver
Rich Lague, Physical Therapist, Seattle
Mark Vossler, President Elect Physicians for Social Responsibility, Kirkland
Nicole Casanova, Health Services Consultant, Seattle
Stephen Bezruchka, Professor Emeritus, UW School of Pubic Health, Seattle
Chris Covert-Bowlds , MD, family doctor , Seattle
Anita Penuelas, Physician , Seattle
Annemarie Dooley MD, Physician, Seattle
Colin Romero, MD, Seattle
Mary Anne Mercer, MPH, DrPH, Seattle
Elizabeth Hansen, MD PhD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seattle
James Little, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington, Rehabilitation Medicine, Seattle
MaryBeth Bennett, MD, MA, General Pediatrician, Seattle
Breck Lebegue MD MPH, Retired Public Health Physician, Steilacoom
Michael Lee, Physician, Bellevue
Jonathan Wells, MD, Seattle
Charles Cowan, MD, Seattle
David Springer , MD, Seattle
Rhonda Levitt, MD, Seattle
David Brook, MD, Kenmore
Richard Kovar, MD, Seattle
Kathy Wilmering, MSW ARNP BC / Director, Seattle
Claire Richards, Assistant Professor, Spokane, WA
Robin Rowedder , RN, Educator, Seattle
Marivic Borromeo, MD, Seattle
Joseph Berkson, MD, Seattle
MIchelle LIrette , PT, DPT, Pediatric Clinical Specialist , Seattle
Andra DeVoght, Physical therapist, Vashon
Lisa Plymate, MD, Seattle
Ronnie Shure, President of HCFA-WA, Seattle
Linda Smith , Parent , Rosalia
Amy Ellingson , Family Physician , Brewster
Lika Smith, ED, Fife
Esther Chung, Physician, Seattle
Amy Hagopian, PhD, Professor emeritus, Seattle
Amanda Segars-Huffstetler, PA-C , Okanogan
Linn Gould, Executive Director, Friday Harbor
Kjersten Gmeiner, Physician, Seattle
Elinor Graham MD, retired Pediatrician, Seattle
Kim Siebens, RN, Bremerton
Rachel Weiner, Family Physician, Seattle
Charles Mayer, Family Physician, Seattle
