MENTAL HEALTH TO TAKE HUGE CUTS IN SENATE, HOUSE BUDGETS - CALLS NEEDED

Key legislators familiar with the upcoming Senate and House budgets confirm that the expected $8 billion-plus deficit will spark deeper cuts, including severe reductions at Western State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake.

This would include ward closures and much more. Other details are not available.

We know that the legislative budgets will be much more harsh than the governor's plan because the deficit has grown since December.

The March revenue forecast comes out Thursday. The Senate budget could come out as soon as Monday, with a floor vote by Wednesday. Then the House would follow suit a couple days later. The rest of the session would then focus on ironing out differences between the two budgets.

On mental health and other programs, our focus will shift to that last month of the session when the real work on the budget takes place, often out of sight.

But first, let's get calls in on this new target, mental health. By the way, mental health members have come to Olympia to lobby for a lot of programs outside mental health. Now it's their turn to get your help.

So far, we know the huge mental health cuts will be in the House budget, so we need to start there. But call all your legislators. If we get word the cuts are in the Senate budget that comes out first, we'll let you know.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please, OPPOSE cuts to mental health services.

Cuts to mental health, including Western State Hospital and Eastern State Hospital harm the continuum of care and public safety by throwing patients onto the streets - at a time when cities and counties don't have the resources to handle the consequences.

This is not an acceptable way to balance to budget.

I urge you to oppose these cuts to mental health.

Thank you. I respectively request a response.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 18, 2009