Earlier this week, Inslee took steps to ensure Washington State meets new federal rules to prevent the loss of $70 million in federal funds for annual food-stamp benefits. By increasing “monthly heating assistance for low-income families,” Washington “joins seven other states” in changing laws to meet new federal requirements for food stamp benefits—a move called that “heat and eat formula.” Inslee explained that, without increasing state support for heating bills, nearly 200,000 Washington households would face cuts to food stamp allowances.
Last month, Inslee proved incapable of leading fellow Democrats in tweaking state law to meet new federal rules for education funding. As a result, Washington State forfeited “$40 million a year in federal funding for needy students.” Why? The Washington Education Association (WEA)—our state’s powerful teachers union—decided they did not want to abide by new federal requirements. Apparently, for Inslee and his fellow Democrats, whatever a powerful union says goes—even at the expense of our children’s futures.
Good thing, for those 200,000 Washington households, a union wasn’t against expanding monthly heating assistance.
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