The legislative session starts Monday and WROC hopes to see some action from legislators toward ending poverty.  Some things we are hoping they will do this year is:

1.  Increase the TANF/GAU grants (14 years with no increase is shameful)

2.  Stop full family sanction.  Children will start to lose their cash grants in March 2007 under current rules.  DSHS is still sanctioning families illegally and caseworkers need to be held accountable for following state laws before hundreds of families are put on the streets.

3.  Increase access to education, fund Opportunity Acts, Representative Kinney's bill that would increase financial aid for the first two years of college.

4.  Living wage bill, Representative Miloscia hopes to end poverty in 20 years.

5.  Regulate payday lenders, SPAN is taking the lead on this issue, see below.

6.  Do something about health care!  The Governor has been talking about this a lot lately, let's hope her actions make a difference.

WROC will be holding a legislative training at WROC Night Out on Monday, February 5th at the First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE.  We start with a potluck at 5:30, the training will be from 6 - 8.  We have on site childcare.

The WROC/NOW lobby day will be Monday, February 19th.  It's a holiday, so bring the kids.  It's an all day event, starting at 10, at the WROC office, 701 Franklin SE.  We will have a training about talking to legislators, have lunch then set out for the capitol to meet with our elected officials.  Mark your calendars!

Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition

www.wroc.org