These difficult economic times have had a significant impact upon everyone. A place where this is especially apparent is preschool classrooms. The individuals in these classes who teach sharing, kindness, and problem solving to our children are often low-income, part-time working moms. These teachers are left with very little support from society due to a devastating economy and the continuous slashing of the state budget. The same women who nurture our children might not be able to afford basic services like family planning and maternity support. Our children need to see that we practice the same values we expect in them. We need a new approach to Washington’s budget and revenue systems in order to maintain critical safety-net services and ensure a good quality of life for all Washingtonians. Initiative 1098 is a much needed step towards solving our current budget woes. The federal government must also extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, which supplies our state with vital funds for Medicaid costs. Without these steps, safety-net services that support thousands of Washington families will be at risk. That is not the future I want for my kids.

Cameron Michels, Kirkland