The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents May 2025 Remember-ing Retired House Speaker Frank Chopper Frank was a long-time member of PSARA. He was extraordinarily gracious and generous with his time when PSARA members came to lobby day in Olympia. Below are some remembrances of Frank from PSARA leaders. Jeff Johnson Jeff is the retired president of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL- CIO, and presently serves as the co-president of PSARA: On November 3, 1998, Initiative 688, written and backed by labor, raised Washington’s state minimum wage to the highest in the country and was the first minimum wage to be indexed to inflation. Passing by 66 percent, and bringing out an additional 3 percent of the vote, broke Republican control of the House, creating a 49-49 tie and making Frank Chopp Co-Speaker of the House of Representatives. In March of 2001, labor convinced Tom Campbell (R-Spanaway) to cast his vote for Frank’s budget, passing the first Democratic budget in seven years, essentially giving Frank control of the House. In November, 2001, labor-supported candidate Brian Sullivan won a special election in the 21st LD, giving Frank and the Democrats full control of the state House. Frank liked to tell the story of how his grandparents met on a picket line outside the mines in Roslyn, WA. In 2002 he was able to honor that history by helping to shepherd four collective bargaining bills through the legislature, giving full collective bargaining rights to state employees and giving over 60,000 workers a real voice at the workplace. Frank was a complex man, and not always easy to work with. But he was a champion for the poor and for afford- able housing. His leadership at the Freemont Public Association (Solid Ground) and the Washington State legislature has left an indelible mark on the less fortunate among us. Frank had so much more he wanted to give. He will be missed. Sretan put, voda Frank Chopp! Marily Watkins Marilyn is on the Board of the PSARA Education Fund and on PSARA's Government Relations Committee. She retired as the Policy Director of the Economic Opportunity Institute: Frank was a master of the long game. In 2002, with our state in recession and facing a budget shortfall, he taught me a key lesson for winning new policy. The coalition I worked with was pushing an early version of paid family and medical leave. When we met with Frank, he said there was no way he could pass it that year. But instead of leaving it there, he added, “Come back with something I can pass.” We came back with the Family Care Act, and it did pass. Since then, Washington workers have had the right to use their sick leave or any other employer-provided paid time off to care for a sick family member. It was still a long path to winning comprehensive paid family and medical leave, but along the way, the Washington Work and Family Coalition, partnering with local coalitions, helped win paid sick leave for all workers in Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma, then statewide. Finally, in 2017, Speaker Chopp presided over passage of our state’s landmark paid family and medical leave program. These advances have served as models for other states, helping mil- lions of workers and families across the country. Pam Crone Pam is the chairperson of PSARA’s Government Relations Committee and a retired lobbyist for PSARA: I lobbied for 20 years in the Washington State Legislature. Seventeen of those years were during Frank’s long tenure as House Speaker. Being summoned to Frank’s office has been likened to getting called to the principal’s office in junior high. The reason for the summons wasn’t always clear beforehand. Perhaps you had done some- thing really great or terribly wrong? Approaching the Speaker’s Office hop-ing for the former, the experience was always significant, and one walked out abundantly clear as to what the expectations were for a future course of action. Frank exuded energy and power. No one worked harder in the Legislature than he did. His legislative successes were legion, and he knew how to communicate those successes to Washingtonians, ensuring healthy majorities session after session. I always respected and admired how he mentored ranks of smart and eager young people, providing them a front-row seat in making policy and navigating politics. I cared for him deeply and the loss is great. Angie Bartels Angie is PSARA’s Membership Vice President: Frank Chopp was a very close friend and colleague of my husband, Tony Lee, deceased. While Frank was Speaker of the House, he recruited Tony to work at Solid Ground and lead the Statewide Poverty Action Network as the director and lead advocate. Together, these two incredibly talented men worked tirelessly (with others of course) over many years drafting legislation and garnering the support of other state legislators to pass laws in support of low-income residents of our state. This included health care, employment, workforce training, union support, early childhood education, equity in education, prisoner’s rights, services and rights for immigrants, and so much more. Occasionally we had large meetings at our house of advocates and supporters. I remember one occasion when Frank was sponsoring legislation to increase and improve mental health services. He gave a very emotional speech about the need for services to ease the suffering of the people affected and their families. As he spoke about his own sister’s mental health condition and how it affected their family, Frank wept. Through his tears, or in spite of them, Frank spoke boldly and valiantly of the work he was preparing in the legislature. I was very moved by this presentation, and it changed how I viewed Frank. His persona, in my eyes, of the mythical hero melded with the sensitive human being that he was. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has fought harder or given more of himself for the people of the state of Washington. Rest in peace Frank. Your legacy lives on. < Back to Table of Contents

In the Advocate May 2025: Cindy Domingo Resisting Immigrant Deportations – This Is Just the Beginning Cindy Domingo Two hundred fifty people packed Seattle’s International Association of Machinists Local 751 union hall on May 3rd, with another 60+ online, to de- liver a powerful message to the Trump administration that they would resist deportations occurring at a massive level in the US. In a show of unity, a multi-racial crowd of Asian Americans, Latinos, and white people coming from over 150 organizations/affiliations listened to three different panels composed of immigrant rights organizations and advocates, elected officials, lawyers, educators, and representatives from faith-based organizations, labor, and community-based organizations. The new organization Standing for Democracy was the convenor of the conference, which was cosponsored by another 20 organizations, including PSARA and the major statewide immigrant rights organizations NW Immi- grant Rights Project and Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. Opening keynote speaker Rosalinda Guillen, Executive Director and cofounder of Community to Com- munity, provided a vision for Standing for Democracy as she recalled the history and work of the Washington State Rainbow Coalition (WSRC) of the 1980-90’s. WSRC, often portrayed as a multi-racial movement that had an inside/outside Democratic Party strategy, was part of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, but maintained its independence from Jackson. The WSRC developed a comprehensive forward- looking program, which encompassed a local, state, national, and international platform that guided its domestic and foreign policies that remain relevant today. Elected officials and political candidates coming to the WSRC for endorsements were measured by that program. For many during that period, the WSRC became the model of what participatory democracy could look like in the context of a progressive program and party. Presentations by County Council member Teresa Mosqueda and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (via video message) both signaled that the first 100 days of the Trump administration’s policies are quickly moving us towards fascism. The attacks on immigrants, misinformation, denial of due process, and Trump’s seizure of power held by Congress and the Courts is the classic playbook of dictators and authoritarian regimes. Both women called on conference attendees to continue to resist and organize because it is the power of the people that will stop the dismantling of our democracy. The conference reflected the willing- ness of people to come together to de- fend immigrants but also peoples’ need to develop concrete strategies and plans to further disrupt Trump’s over- all move towards fascism. As Jayapal stated, the attacks against immigrants are about all of us and all our democrat- ic rights. While Standing for Democracy in Washington State is just beginning, some ideas from the conference are already taking form. Out of the conference panel on litigation strategies, a group of lawyers led by Attorney Michael Withey are developing a legal “Strike Force” that will use various tools like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to uncover information on the strategies of ICE and local police forces in Washington State. As a sanctuary state, local police forces are not allowed to cooperate with ICE on sharing information on immigrants or cooperating on arrests for federal civil immigration violations. Information from FOIAs could lead to further lawsuits to stop illegal activity. King County Councilmember Jorge Baron, a longtime leader on immigration policy in Washington State and nationally, and Mosqueda both called upon Standing for Democracy and attendees to assist in developing and supporting policies that resist the Trump administration’s attacks on im- migrants, diversity/equity/inclusion, and programs such as Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. Washington State has already been targeted by Trump for severe federal budget cut- backs. Although that policy has been contested in court, the two Councilmembers along with Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who presented on the allies panel, need a strong movement to develop new revenue to support core programs for working class people of our state and those most impacted by poverty and racism. Organizers for Standing for Democracy are considering going to the vari- ous organizations that cosponsored the conference and others across the state who are interested in building an inter- sectional movement to resist Trump’s anti-democratic policies and his moves toward fascism. There are many organizations operating throughout Washington State that work on a variety of issues, including in rural Washington and in municipalities of various sizes. These organizations do great work in their communities. As a new organization, we want to know how we can move forward together without usurping what others are doing already. One of the ideas that evolved out of the Social Forum model was the concept of Peoples’ Assemblies where communities of particular areas or sectors come together to develop their own platform based on their experiences, knowledge, and aspirations. This model has the potential of develop- ing a statewide platform similar to the Washington State Rainbow Coalition. Another tool that the National office of Standing for Democracy has developed, which was tested at the conference, was a curriculum on fascism that could potentially be adapted for use in particular sectors or communities. Standing for Democracy is holding a follow-up Zoom gathering on May 22. It is open to conference attendees who would like to further develop ideas and strategies for working together to grow our movement. Cindy Domingo is PSARA's Co-VP for Outreach and a veteran activist with LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing) and APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance). BACK TO THE ADVOCATE

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents May 2025 No Power Greater: The Life and Times of George Meyers Mike Andrew Those of us who know Tim Wheeler know how much he loves a good story. And with No Power Greater, he’s offered us a whole book full of good stories. The main narrative follows the life of George Aloysius Meyers from his birth into a mine worker’s family in 1912 to his death in 1999. Other stories inter- sect with and branch off of Meyers’ story, so by the time we’ve finished the book we realize we’ve read a history of the 20th Century American labor movement. As a boy, Meyers met Mother Jones, the legendary mine worker organizer. As a young man, he worked as a CIO organizer under John L. Lewis. On his travels for the CIO, he met and befriended Florence Reese, the author of the classic labor song “Which Side Are You On?” and her husband, Sam. Later, as Labor Secretary of the Communist Party (CPUSA), he met often with William Winpisinger, the militant president of the Machinists Union (IAM). Tim Wheeler himself is part of Meyers’ story. Along with his wife, Joyce Provost Wheeler, a teacher and AFT activist, Tim lived just down the street from Meyers in Baltimore. Tim was then the Washington, DC, Bureau Chief of CPUSA’s Daily World newspaper. Our own Will Parry, his wife, Louise, and Irene Hull are part of Meyers’ story too. Hundreds of rank-and-file labor leaders filled Meyers’ life and they come to life again in the pages of Tim’s book. George Meyers had a gift for friendship, but not every labor leader was his friend. George Meany, the AFL-CIO president who liked to brag that he’d never walked a picket line, is a looming, hostile presence throughout the later chapters of the book. So is Al Shanker, the divisive president of the AFT. Did I mention that George Meyers was a Communist? Had he been anything else, a Republican maybe, his life would have been much different. Meyers joined the CPUSA in 1939. Although he was still young, only 27, he was by then an experienced labor organizer and the first president of the Maryland CIO. Looking back at Meyers’ early life, it seems natural he would join the CPUSA. His father was a miner who would die of black lung disease. Meyers himself started out working in a textile mill and developed brown lung from breathing in cotton fibers and toxic chemicals. Labor organizing was a dangerous business when Meyers was young. Mine owners used both Baldwin-Felts “detectives” and the Ku Klux Klan as strike breakers. Meyers remembered that the Klan paraded through their neighborhood every Saturday night, while his family sat on their front porch and taunted them. Young labor organizers like Meyers faced down those threats to build the CIO, fight for social legislation like the Social Security Act, and against grow- ing fascism. In 1942, Meyers volunteered to fight fascism in World War II. After the war, with fascism defeated – only temporarily, as we now see – and the USA emerging as the world’s leading capitalist power, the US government abandoned its wartime alliance with the USSR and turned on American communists. Leftist-led unions were expelled from the CIO and activists were hunted by the FBI and HUAC (the House Un- American Activities Committee). Meyers served 38 months in federal prison after a conviction under the Smith Act, allegedly for advocating the overthrow of the US government. Nevertheless, No Power Greater is a book full of optimism. After leaving federal prison, Meyers immediately set about rebuilding communist organizations throughout the South. New union leaders stepped forward. For every George Meany, there’s a hundred George Meyers. For every Al Shanker, there’s a hundred Joyce Provost Wheelers. According to Tim, we owe this remarkable book to an impulse to “put his affairs in order” after his 82nd birthday. While looking for old sneakers to toss out, Tim discovered a half-forgotten box of Meyers’ papers, all typed by Tim’s wife, Joyce. “I decided then and there that putting my personal affairs in order can wait,” Tim writes. “I am still of sound mind and body. Before I die, I must write this book.” And so he did. The book’s title comes from the labor anthem “Solidarity Forever.” When the union’s inspiration Through the workers’ blood shall run There can be no power greater Anywhere beneath the sun… Mike Andrew is the Editor of the Advocate and Executive Director of PSARA < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents February 2026 Capitol Outlook 2026 A Peak Inside Pam Crone The 2026 Washington State Legislature commenced its 60-day “short” session January 12. Reflection My last year lobbying was the 2020 legislative session. I did not know at the time it would be my last session, with all of us heading home in March. It was the beginning of the pandemic and, my, oh my, how things would change. The next two legislative sessions, 2021 and 2022, were conducted remotely, forever changing the way advocates and legislators did their work. There was both more access and less. How could that be? More access because Washingtonians could testify in hearings from anywhere using their at-home computers or phones. Testifying and having your voice heard would not require a trek up and down I-5 or over I-90 to do so. Less access because health concerns drove legislators to limit in-person meetings with advocates and each other. Something deeply human is lost without that person-to-person contact. But what I remember at the beginning of that last session and the 19 that preceded it was the air of excitement, anticipation, and yes, some dread at embarking on the exhausting legislative marathon. The second Monday in January had the feel of the beginning of a new school term, seeing old friends and the classroom bullies, and gearing up for academic endeavors and a new season of extracurricular activities. In that spirit of reminiscence, here is a haiku for you. A fluttering heart As legislators convene May they do justice PSARA Makes Good on its Commitment PSARA members were out of the gate running in December and early January, meeting with their legislators to advocate for “leveling the playing field,” progressive revenues, affordable housing, climate justice, immigrant fairness and safety, and much more. (See our PSARA legislative webpage for our updated agenda and talking points). Our members met with 25 legislators and/or staff from 11 districts. District leads were Laurie Weidner, Richard Burton, Amy Davis, Bobby Righi, Marilyn Watkins, Angie Bartels, Karen Richter, Vicky Stanich, France Giddings, Tim Burns, Lisa Dekker, Pam and Tom Lux, and Ronnie Schure. It was an Impressive showing pre-session. District leads scheduled the legislator meetings, organized PSARA members in their respective districts, convened planning sessions to prepare for the meetings, and shared information with me, and provided any needed follow up with the legislators. We met our goal of meeting with our legislators early before the crush of a short 60-day session to lay out our 2026 policy priorities. What You Have Always Wanted to Know and Didn’t Know You Wanted to Know Here we go. Test yourself. Take a gander here for the key. How long does the Governor have, before signing a bill passed by the Legislature? To what does “on the Bar” refer? To what does “they are in caucus, again ” refer? How is the House Speaker elected Is the Senate Majority Leader chosen the same way? Blast from the past: what is a Gulchette? Who gets to eat in the Senate Dining Room Making Good Trouble We at PSARA know how to make good trouble. Advocacy and activism begin with being informed. PSARA provides the tools to do that. You can find our dedicated legislative page on the psara.org website. You will find our legislative agenda, talking points on our priorities, a weekly calendar of hearings of interest, and bill links to sign in your support or opposition. Throughout the session, our intrepid Executive Director, Mike Andrew, will send out alerts asking you to contact your legislators. We won’t flood you with alerts so when you do hear from us … it matters. If you are interested in being a part of or contributing to our Government Relations Committee, let Mike know. That’s it for now. Signing off until March. Pam Crone is a retired lobbyist and Chair of PSARA's Government Relations Committee (GRC). Michael Righi is a retired economics professor and a member of the Retiree Advocate Editorial Board. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents August 2026 S4886 Would Cap Out-of-Pocket Costs in Traditional Medicare Robbie Stern Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), prime sponsor of the bill. S 4886, the Medicare Cost Cap Act, introduced in late June by Senate Democratic leadership, with Senator Murray as an original co-sponsor, establishes a $5,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for Traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries starting in 2028. Medicare would pay 100% of our health care bills once out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, including what a Medigap policy paid, reached $5000 annually. In a recent article posted by the Center for Health and Democracy’s Newsletter, HEALTH CARE uncovered , Wendell Potter, a former high ranking insurance executive, writes, “since traditional Medicare has existed, it has had a flaw so obvious and so consequential that it is understandable why many seniors have enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans despite the many downsides of doing so; there is no limit on what a beneficiary enrolled in traditional Medicare can owe in a single year.” According to Potter, S4886 “counts both direct beneficiary payments and payments made by Medigap or other wraparound coverage toward the $5,000 threshold. In practice, this means the cap functions as a true ceiling on total cost-sharing liability, not just on what comes directly out of a beneficiary’s pocket.” Medicare Advantage (MA) is required to have an out-of-pocket cap. Despite the significant problems with MA, many Medicare beneficiaries choose MA because they do not want to risk financial ruin if they have a chronic condition or contract a serious illness like cancer. While many of us do purchase Medigap insurance with our Traditional Medicare (TM) coverage, for very many Medicare beneficiaries the cost of private Medigap insurance is too much for fixed income budgets. In his post, Potter goes on to say, “According to an analysis by Brown University’s Center for Advancing Health Policy through research shared with Senate Finance Committee staff, 3.2 million beneficiaries would benefit from the cap in 2028 alone. Over the next decade, more than half of beneficiaries are expected to exceed the $5,000 threshold at least once. On average, the cap is projected to save enrollees $1,024 per year.” PSARA and the PSARA Education Fund have promoted the goal of leveling the playing field between MA and TM. S4886 is an important step in that direction. While we would have preferred a lower cap (e.g. $3,000), short of Medicare for All, this legislation represents an important step forward in providing Medicare beneficiaries with a genuine choice between MA and TM. Potter writes: “The average Social Security retirement benefit in 2026 is about $1,900 a month, or roughly $22,800 a year. An uncapped medical event that generates $15,000 or $20,000 in Parts A and B cost-sharing — entirely possible with a serious hospitalization or cancer diagnosis — would be financially catastrophic for the median beneficiary in traditional Medicare. A $5,000 cap doesn’t make that event painless, but it makes it survivable without financial ruin. “For beneficiaries currently being pushed toward Medicare Advantage – not because they prefer it but because they cannot afford Medigap – this cap would change the calculus. Traditional Medicare with a $5,000 OOP limit is a meaningfully different product from traditional Medicare without one. For the first time, it would be a product that most seniors could choose on its merits rather than on the basis of financial fear.” In addition, the cost of Medigap insurance for those who choose to purchase Medigap, should decrease as the risk of loss to the insurer is less than it was with no cap. Those who purchase Medigap have experienced Medigap policy premiums increasing steadily. Sponsors of the Medicare Cost Cap Act made clear that one goal of the legislation is lowering the increasing Medigap premiums. S4886 is a stake in the ground for future sessions of Congress. It is not likely to be considered, much less passed, under the present leadership in Congress and in the White House. But we will do all that we can, working with our national partners and Washington’s congressional delegation, to have it reintroduced in the 2027 Congress. The idea of a reasonable out-of-pocket cap in Traditional Medicare has sprung to life as a necessary step in leveling the playing field between TM and MA. Medicare beneficiaries need to have a genuine choice and not be forced into MA because they cannot afford TM. Robby Stern is President of the PSARA Education Fund and a member of PSARA's Executive Board. < Back to Table of Contents

“If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare… I will stop them!” President Joe Biden, 2024 State of the Union Address, March 7, 2024 (This is a reprint from PSARA’s April 2024 Advocate) By Jeff Johnson Jeff Johnson and Floyd Since 2021, PSARA has launched a full-court press against attacks on Traditional Medicare and now against House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Fiscal Commission to undermine the health and retirement income security of seniors. “Over the past several years there has been a gold rush to privatize Medicare…. If we don’t ‘level the playing field’ between Traditional Medicare and privatized Medicare, healthcare decisions for seniors will be completely at the mercy of corporations…by the end of the decade.” (Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, from the forward to Give Us a Real Choice! Level the Playing Field Between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, PSARA 2024). Congresswoman Jayapal’s warning and President Biden’s declaration could not have come at a more important moment in history for protecting and strengthening the quality of life for seniors. As the leader of the Democratic party, we need President Biden to do everything he can, and by all means necessary, to provide seniors with a level playing field, a fair choice, in choosing between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage/ACO REACH for their healthcare needs. Traditional Medicare is a legacy democratic issue that is being systemically dismantled by private industry. If Trump and MAGA Republicans prevail at the ballot box in November, Traditional Medicare and Social Security as we know it will end. And so too will an important part of our democratic and social justice legacy. To level the playing field, President Biden needs to lead the effort to jettison the need for Medigap insurance policies (which were part of a historically racist policy to keep as many Black people out of the doctors’ offices and hospitals that primarily served white people); place a cap on out-of-pocket expenditures; equalize the benefits between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage (e.g., hearing, dental, vision, transportation, home visits, etc.); and put an end to the overpayments to private industry for managing Medicare claims, and the fraudulent practices private industry uses to bilk the Medicare Trust Fund out of tens of billions of dollars a year. Returning this money to the Medicare Trust Fund will pay for leveling the playing field. How is President Biden supposed to do this? Direct the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to incentivize Traditional Medicare; create pilot programs with cost parity for beneficiaries choosing Traditional Medicare Plans; claw back overpayments to, and fraudulent charges from Medicare Advantage and ACO REACH Programs; and put an end to fraudulent charges going forward. Lead on legislative and budgetary proposals. Use the power of executive orders where possible, in the face of Congressional resistance. Use the courts where necessary (Equal Protection Clause, e.g.). Educate the public through a concerted and strategic communications and organizing campaign. What can PSARA members and allies do? PSARA has drafted a letter to President Biden as well as a Resolution that outlines the need for and the consequences of not “Leveling the Playing Field” between Traditional Medicare and privatized Medicare. We are asking leaders and organizations to sign on to the letter with PSARA as well as to pass the resolution, in the case of organizations. We hope to demonstrate to President Biden the need for, and urgency of, creating a fair choice for seniors over their health care and the quality of their lives. We hope you will sign on to the letter. We hope you will also take the letter and resolution to organizations that you belong to and community leaders that you know for their endorsements. This is a national effort, so please reach out to relatives, friends, and organizations across the country. PSARA has also published a Medicare primer on making the case for “Leveling the Playing Field.” The primer, the letter to President Biden, and the Resolution can all be found on the PSARA website at PSARA.org. In this hyper-political environment we find ourselves in, Democrats need basic issues that will unite the majority of voters. Fulfilling the original promise of Medicare – to provide the health care seniors need when they most need it – is one of those fundamental issues. Jeff Johnson is Co-President of PSARA and a retired President of the WashingtonState Labor Council.

Email address, phone, and mailing address for PSARA. Complete this form for general inquiries. Get in Touch Submit Thank you for contacting us! PSARA Directory: PSARA Executive Director Mike Andrew Organizer@psara.org PSARA Co-President s Karen Richter and Jeff Johnson president@psara.org Administrative Vice Presidents Jessica Bonebright Outreach Co-Vice President s Lisa Dekker and Rick Timmins Membership Vice President Angela Bartels Treasurer Tom Lux Government Relations Committee Chair Pam Crone Environmental Committee Co-Chairs Tom Lux, Bob Barnes, Bobby Righi Diversity Committee Co-Chairs Frank Irigon and Anne Watanabe Retiree Advocate Editor Mike Andrew msand76@hotmail.com Retiree Advocate Copy Editor Amy Davis Web Administrator Paul Muldoon Facebook Administrator Ellen Menshew PSARA Education Fund Directory: President Robby Stern Vice President Karen Ric h ter president@psara.org Secretary Barb Flye Treasurer Laila Saliba Board Member Carlos de la Torre Vanetta Molson Advocate Editor Mike Andrew msand76@hotmail.com Copy Editor Amy Davis Photographer Garet Munger Printing Trade Printery Need to reach us? Phone our office in the WSLC at (206) 261-8110. If necessary, leave a message with your phone number. We will call you back.

Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) Legislative Priorities List and Status for the Washington State Legislature 25/26 Biennium. Final Status of 2025 PSARA Washington State Legislative Agenda (updated 04/29/2025 ) PSARA is a multi-generational grass roots organization advocating for all people and seniors, in particular, being able to live their lives with economic security, dignity, and respect. With the close of the session we have updated the bill status. For those bills that have passed we have included a link for more information on the bill. We will make one more update later in May to confirm the Governor’s acceptance or rejection of each of the bills passed through the WA State Legislature. All of this work has been carried out by PSARA’s Government Relations Committee, click here for more information on the Committee. Healthcare PSARA believes that comprehensive, affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate health care is a fundamental human right. Promote Leveling the Playing Field in Medicare SJM 8002 Status: Passed Senate 30-19. Did not pass the House. Will be reintroduced next year. Protect against healthcare program cuts and advance immigrant health equity Status: Budget Support efforts to advance universal healthcare SJM 8004 Status: Passed the House and the Senate and filed with Secretary of State. Ensure quality affordable healthcare for nursing home workers (WA Essential Worker Healthcare Program) HB 1523/SB 5344 Status: Dead 2025 Strengthen and protect WA Cares SB 5291 Status : Passed Senate & House awaiting Governor ’ s signature Housing and Homelessness PSARA supports keeping people housed, building more low-income housing, and preventing homelessness in the first place. Ensure reasonable and more predictable rent increases by passing rent stabilization HB 1217 /SB 5222 Status: 1217 Passed Senate & House awaiting Governor ’ s signature Invest $500 million in the Housing Trust Fund Status: Budget Preserve supportive services and prevent cuts to homelessness programs Status: Budget Create affordable housing close to transit HB 1491 Status: Passed Senate & House awaiting Governor ’ s signature The final rent stabilization bill passed the legislature on Sunday, April 27. The conference budget, unfortunately, did not cap residential rent increases at 7%. That is a disappointment, but housing advocates still count the final bill as a win and are urging Governor Ferguson to sign the bill. Caps rent increases for manufactured homeowners at 5% per year; Caps residential rent increases at 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 10% per year, whichever is lower; Covers apartments and single-family homes; with some exceptions (including subsidized housing owned by nonprofits or public housing authorities; homes developed with low-income Housing Tax Credits regulated by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and duplexes through fourplexes when the owner lives on site); Exempts newly-built homes for the first 12 years; Ends the caps for residential tenants after 15 years. The manufactured housing cap does not expire. The agreed upon capital budget includes $605 million for the Housing Trust Fund. Workers Rights and Economic Justice PSARA supports legislation that promotes healthy families and workplaces. Extend job protection in the Family & Medical Leave Program to ensure low wage earners can return to their jobs after leave to care for themselves or family members HB 1213 /SB 5539 Status: 1213 Passed Senate & House awaiting Governor ’ s signature Extend unemployment benefits to striking workers SB 5041 Status: Passed Senate & House awaiting Governor ’ s signature Extend unemployment benefits to undocumented workers SB 5626 Status: Dead 2025. Build economic security for low-income families by creating the Washington Future Fund Pilot Program (Baby bonds) HB 1661/SB 5541 Status: SB 5541 Dead 2025. Working Families Tax Credit HB 1214/SB 5768 Status: SB 5768 Dead 2025. Climate and Environmental Justice PSARA supports the right of all people to live and work in a clean and healthy environment. Divest Washington State Investment Board (“WSIB”) funds from fossil fuels (No Coal Act) SB 5439 Status: Dead 2025. Add a Green Amendment to the Washington State Constitution Status: No Action Improve solid waste management outcomes by reducing use of plastic wrap and containers HB 1150/SB 5284 Status: 5284 Passed Senate & House awaiting Governor ’ s signature Curb Act Increasing environmental justice by improving government decisions HB 1303 Status: Dead 2025 . Fiscal Reform and Revenue PSARA supports a state budget that is transparent, pays a living wage to state workers, and provides services that help our people, economy, and environment thrive. Prevent devastating budget cuts by providing new progressive revenues such as a wealth tax that taxes extraordinary financial assets Current Status: The final legislative operating budget includes nearly $6 billion in cuts and close to $9 billion in new revenue over the four-year outlook — significantly less revenue than legislative Democrats had initially sought. Governor Ferguson previously rejected each version of the revenue plan, citing concerns that the proposals were “too risky.” Governor Ferguson has partial and line item veto power. The final signed budget must be balanced. The Governor can’t add items or move money around. If his vetos are significant, a special session could be needed to produce a balanced final budget.

Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid Are Under Attack Source documents: Overall: FACT SHEET: Senator Murray Outlines How Trump’s Attempt to Shutter Federal Agencies’ Offices Across WA State Will Hurt Taxpayers, Rip Away Services: https://www.murray.senate.gov/fact-sheet-senator-murray-outlines-how-trumps-attempt-to-shutter-federal-agencies-offices-across-wa-state-will-hurt-taxpayers-rip-away-services/ Medicaid: Click here to see what the impacts to Medicaid will be for the State of Washington. Letter to U.S. Senate leadership from The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations outlining the Damage that President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will do to millions of Medicaid recipients: https://www.lcao.org/article/lcao-june-2025-reconciliation-letter-to-senate/ “Unprecedented” Medicaid Cuts Could Cripple Health Program, BU Experts Warn: https://www.bu.edu/articles/2025/medicaid-cuts-could-cripple-health-program/ House Republican Attacks on Medicaid Expansion Would Threaten Coverage for 20 Million People: https://www.cbpp.org/blog/house-republican-attacks-on-medicaid-expansion-would-threaten-coverage-for-20-million-people Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions: https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-work-requirements-congress-republicans-90ec1119f1d95de067c76f79eec7fa87 A Cut to Medicaid is a Cut to Medicare: 5 Key Facts About Medicaid Coverage for People with Medicare: https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-coverage-for-people-with-medicare/ Medicare: Threats to the Social Security Administration and to Benefits Continue to Raise Alarm: https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/03/20/threats-to-the-social-security-administration-and-to-benefits-continue-to-raise-alarm Will the Trump Administration Fast Track the Privatization of Medicare?: https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/will-the-trump-administration-fast-track-the-privatization-of-medicare/ Social Security: Ann Widger, Director, AFSCME Retirees Letter to Retired Federal Employees asking for their experiences with Social Security. Ball Award Recipients Letter concerning alarm over current actions of DOGE that threaten the viability of Social Security benefits for current beneficiaries and workers. Social Security ends phone ID verification, a change opposed by advocates and retirees alike: https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2025-03-21/social-security-ends-phone-id-verification-a-change-opposed-by-advocates-and-retirees-alike Trump and Musk’s Plot to Make It Harder for Americans to Get Their Social Security Benefits: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/fact-sheet-trump-and-musks-plot-to-make-it-harder-for-americans-to-get-their-social-security-benefits#:~:text=SSA%20staff%20ensure%2073%20million,lowest%20level%20in%2050%20years. Donald Trump and Elon Musk Are Making Their Social Security Lies a Reality — By Punishing Maine Families: https://socialsecurityworks.org/2025/03/07/trump-musk-social-security-lies-punish-maine-families/ Regurn to Social Security Page

2025 PSARA Washington State Legislative Agenda (updated 03/13/2025 ) Click here for shareable pdf of PSARA’s 2024 Legislative Agenda Click here for PSARA’s most Current WA Legislative Report Lobby Day Training Page PSARA is a multi-generational grass roots organization advocating for all people and seniors, in particular, being able to live their lives with economic security, dignity, and respect. Healthcare PSARA believes that comprehensive, affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate health care is a fundamental human right. Promote Leveling the Playing Field in Medicare SJM 8002 Status: Passed Senate 30-19. House Healthcare and Wellness Hearing March 21, 8:00 a.m. Protect against healthcare program cuts and advance immigrant health equity Status: Budget Support efforts to advance universal healthcare SJM 8004 Status: Passed Senate 30-19 House Healthcare and Wellness Hearing March 21, 8:00 a.m. Ensure quality affordable healthcare for nursing home workers (WA Essential Worker Healthcare Program) HB 1523/SB 5344 Status: Dead 2025 Strengthen and protect WA Cares SB 5291 Status: Passed Senate 38-11. Housing and Homelessness PSARA supports keeping people housed, building more low-income housing, and preventing homelessness in the first place. Ensure reasonable and more predictable rent increases by passing rent stabilization HB 1217/SB 5222 Status: HB 1217 Passed House 53-42 Senate Hearing Housing 3-19 1:30 p.m. Invest $500 million in the Housing Trust Fund Status: Budget Preserve supportive services and prevent cuts to homelessness programs Status: Budget Create affordable housing close to transit HB 1491 Status: Passed House 58-39 Senate Hearing Housing 3-14 1:30 p.m. Workers Rights and Economic Justice PSARA supports legislation that promotes healthy families and workplaces. Extend job protection in the Family & Medical Leave Program to ensure low wage earners can return to their jobs after leave to care for themselves or family members HB 1213/SB 5539 Status: HB 1213 Passed House 55-41 . Extend unemployment benefits to striking workers SB 5041 Status: Passed Senate 28-21 House Hearing Labor 3-18 10:30. Extend unemployment benefits to undocumented workers SB 5626 Status: Dead 2025. Build economic security for low-income families by creating the Washington Future Fund Pilot Program (Baby bonds) HB 1661/SB 5541 Status: SB 5541 Dead 2025. Working Families Tax Credit HB 1214/SB 5768 Status: SB 5768 Dead 2025. Climate and Environmental Justice PSARA supports the right of all people to live and work in a clean and healthy environment. Divest Washington State Investment Board (“WSIB”) funds from fossil fuels (No Coal Act) SB 5439 Status: Dead 2025. Add a Green Amendment to the Washington State Constitution Improve solid waste management outcomes by reducing use of plastic wrap and containers HB 1150/SB 5284 Status: SB 5284 Passed the Senate 27-22 House Hearing Energy 3-17 1:30 p.m. Curb Act Increasing environmental justice by improving government decisions HB 1303 Status: Dead 2025 . Fiscal Reform and Revenue PSARA supports a state budget that is transparent, pays a living wage to state workers, and provides services that help our people, economy, and environment thrive. Prevent devastating budget cuts by providing new progressive revenues such as a wealth tax that taxes extraordinary financial assets

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents April 2025 APALA National Delegation Travels to the Philippines Cindy Domingo Almost 44 years ago, Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, officers of the Alaska Cannery Workers Union, Local 37, ILWU, had a vision of building solidarity between the workers of the US and the Philippines. It was a vision that they had carried on from their fathers’ generation, which led Local 37 under the leadership of Chris Mensalves and Carlos Bulosan. But it was a vision and plan that cost them their lives. On June 1, 1981, Philippine dictators Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos ordered the two anti-Marcos activists murdered in their Seattle union hall by hired assassins. That money came from the Marcoses and resulted in a federal court judge- ment of $23.5 million for the Domingo and Viernes families. From February 24–March 3 this year, a 13-member Asian Pacific American Labor Delegation (APALA) – co-led by me, Silme's sister; Silme’s daughter and National APALA President, Ligaya Do- mingo; Kent Wong, founding President of APALA; and Ian Seruela, San Diego APALA Chair – made Silme and Gene’s dream come true. The eight-day trip materialized the Philippine solidarity work that Silme and Gene never lived to see. “I am so happy to have realized the dream of my late father, Silme Domingo, Gene Viernes, and their fellow activists,” stated Ligaya Domingo. “It was amazing to have the opportunity to speak directly with labor leaders and union members across many industries in the Philippines. We saw the true impact of globalization and unchecked capitalism, and I am more committed than ever about the importance of building relationships across the global labor movement to build greater power for all workers.” APALA partnered with Nagkaisa, the largest alliance of labor groups and worker organizations in the modern history of the trade union movement in the Philippines, and the Philippine branch of the Solidarity Center. The delegation was composed of labor leaders from Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Minnesota, and Washington DC, many of them Filipino Americans who had never traveled to the Philippines. Over the course of the trip, which traveled to Manila and Cebu, the delegation met with hotel and hospitality workers who are organizing multinational hotel chains that pay substandard wages and benefits to workers; business process workers in call centers; healthcare workers at Makati Medical Center, which boasts an impressive labor-management relationship; public sector workers; teachers and educators; union miners, and a labor organization that advocates for the rights and well-being of local domestic workers. Tagoipay Mathno, a young Cham APALA Seattle Chapter leader, said that “This trip was an eye-opener to see the harmful impact of fascism and what it could do to a country. But the resiliency and generosity of the Filipino people was truly inspirational and served as a reminder of what we all could do as a collective.” One of the most important meetings the delegation had was with unionized workers at Metro Wear Inc. 2, who were organizing for a possible strike in Cebu’s export processing zone. Export processing zones were set up during the Marcos dictatorship and served as economic zones that provide business incentives, including tax exemptions and barrier free trade environments, es- pecially for manufacturers and exporters. Metro Wear Inc. 2 workers produce Lululemon wear, a highly popular brand of workout wear. Formed in December 2023, the union, called Organization of Metrowear Employees for Genuine Advocacy - Pinagisang Tinig at Lakas ng Anakpawis (OMEGA - Piglas), has been fighting for recognition. Based on information given to the delegation, it was calculated that if a pair of workout pants costs $120/pair, and a beginning worker must make 50 pairs/ hr., that worker could possibly make $48,000 worth of pants/day. There are 1,500 workers in the plant, so the rate of exploitation is extreme for a work- force that makes about 501 pesos/day (equivalent to $8.76 USD/day). How- ever, in a recent victory, the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment, after pressure from foreign entities and Philippine elected officials, issued an order for Metro Wear Inc to enter into collective bargaining agreement negotiations with OMEGA-Piglas, thus avoiding a strike with the workers. APALA is watching these negotiations closely. Bernie Burnham, President of the Minnesota Labor Federation, AFL- CIO, representing over 300,000 union members and 1,000 locals of Filipino descent, came to the Philippines on her first visit. "I was humbled to listen to the stories of the Filipino workers we met with and saw the hope in their eyes. Their pride was evident. I was especially impressed with the women, who work to build and advocate for their communities, seemingly against the odds. We were able to attend the People’s Power 1986 Commemoration on one of our afternoons. The energy and dedication to working people is alive and evident still today. We visited with survivors of the Marcos regime, whose mission to educate and continue to tell the story, vowing 'Never Again,' was powerful. To see the names of Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, American labor leaders who were assassinated by Marcos hitmen and actually be there with Ligaya and Cindy…I will never forget the sacrifices of their families in the fight for a better labor movement. This trip reinforced my commitment to the labor movement and the importance of worldwide solidarity for workers.” Please contact apala@gmail.com if you are interested in hearing about Seattle delegation report-back events. Cindy Domingo is PSARA’s Co-VP for Outreach, and a long-time activist in LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing) and APALA. < Back to Table of Contents

The Retire Advocate < Back to Table of Contents October 2025 Some Developments in the Effort to Stop WISeR Robby Stern In the last month the effort to educate elected leaders and as many people as possible about the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model (WISeR) has intensified. Washington is one of 6 states in the WISeR program. The pilot program expands prior authorization in original Medicare and reimburses AI contractors based on how much money they save the Medicare Trust Fund, i.e. denials of care. Here are a couple of examples of how the educational work is having an impact. On September 3rd, PSARA was invited to provide a presentation at Aljoya senior living facility in the Northgate area in Seattle. Over 50 residents attended. The presentation was about the general attack on Medicare through privatization and an explanation of WISeR. The first question we asked was how many people in attendance had heard of WISEeR. Only two residents raised their hands, and they were PSARA members. After the presentation, the residents decided to send a letter signed by as many residents that they could recruit. Ninety-two residents signed the letter. The letter will go to our two US Senators, their Representative, the Office of the Insurance Com- missioner, the Governor, and their state representatives and state senator. It requests their support in the effort to cancel WISeR. This presentation is one of a number PSARA has done, and more are on the calendar. We met with the Deputy Commissioner and other officials with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. We had sent them, in advance, information about WISeR. After a discussion they indicated they would brief Insurance Commissioner Kuderer. Since that meeting, Insurance Commissioner Kuderer stated her opposition to WISeR at a public presentation one of our members attended. She and her staff will be reaching out to Insurance Commissioners from other states to build opposition to WISeR and the expansion of prior authorization. On September 11, Rep. Pocan(WI) and Rep. Schakowsky(IL) introduced a Resolution in the House of Representatives condemning the expanded use of prior authorization in Medicare. The Resolution states in part that WISeR undermines beneficiary access to health care and should not be implemented. There is a national effort to get as many House members as possible to sign as co-sponsors of the Resolution. PSARA is asking our members and people attending our presentations to please call your Representative and request they sign the Pocan/Schakowsky resolution. Also, please call our Senators and ask them to publicly speak out against WISeR. Feel free to call more than once. The WISeR model is just another example of private corporations reaping profits from Medicare. PSARA opposes the privatization of Medicare. We sup- port leveling the playing field between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. It will give Medicare beneficiaries a genuine choice between Medicare Advantage and public Medicare. The creation of Medicare was a democratic victory for the people. Resistance to WISeR and the corporate takeover of Medicare is part and parcel of our fight against autocracy and for democracy. Please engage with us as we work to save and improve our Medicare. The Pocan-Schakowsky Resolution Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model undermines beneficiary access to healthcare and should not be implemented… Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) expresses disapproval of the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model (2) finds that expanding prior authorization processes used in Medicare Advantage into the publicly administered traditional Medicare Program undermines beneficiary access to timely and necessary medical care; and (3) strongly requests that the Centers for Medicare and Med- icaid Services terminate the WISeR Model. Robby Stern is President of the PSARA Education Fund and a member of PSARA's Executive Board. < Back to Table of Contents