Even if you think you know something about Dino Rossi, you probably haven’t heard the whole story. And you probably have a lot of questions about what he’s done. Not surprisingly, he’s done more harm than good for Washingtonians.
Rossi voted against allowing individuals that quit their jobs voluntarily, due to domestic violence victimization or stalking, to be considered as leaving work voluntarily with good cause, allowing a claimant to qualify for unemployment benefits.
Rossi opposes abortion except in the case of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother. [Seattle Times, 10/14/04]
“Rossi said his opposition to abortion is ‘an issue of conscience.’ He said when a supporter suggested that he could ensure victory by taking a pro-abortion rights stance, he replied ‘I’d rather not be governor’ if it’s necessary to compromise on issues of conscience.” [Associated Press State & Local Wire, 10/18/04]
In 2000, the voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 732 with over 63% voting yes. A majority of voters in every county of the state said “yes” to increases in teacher pay. Initiative 728, which fought overcrowding, passed with even stronger support from Washington voters – 72% said “no” to overcrowding in our childrens’ classrooms.
Citizens knew what they wanted – they placed a strong priority on ensuring that the children of the State of Washington received a worldclass education from highly skilled and motivated teachers in an environment where every student would get the attention he or she needed to learn
By 2003, Dino Rossi was blatantly ignoring the expressed will of Washington voters. Not only does Rossi not share Washingtonians’ commitment to students, teachers, and schools, but he actively worked to undermine and neglect the voters’ clear and decisive choices: “yes” on increased funding and “no” on overcrowding.
Rossi twice voted for a bill to modify teacher cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) within the state biennial operating budget by removing the following provisions: requirements for a COLA for the 2003-05 biennium; provisions declaring that the COLAs are a “basic education” element; and the language of I-732 that required the state to provide funding for all school district staff, rather than just those included in state formula staff allocations.
Rossi authored, and voted for, a proposed 2003-05 budget that would have cut an estimated 40,000 children, in households with incomes above 175 percent of the poverty level, from the Medicaid rolls.
Rossi voted against a bill to develop a comprehensive prescription drug education and utilization system that would improve prescription drug prescribing practices, increase consumer understanding of and compliance with appropriate use of prescription drugs, and improve prescription drug purchasing through a sound evidence-based process that evaluates the therapeutic value and cost-effectiveness of prescription drugs.
Rossi voted twice against adopting a Patient Bill of Rights that would ensure that health plan patients have improved access to information regarding their health plans; have access to a quick and impartial process for appealing plan denials of health care coverage; are protected from unnecessary invasions of health care privacy; and are assured that personal health care information will be used only as necessary to obtain and pay for health care or to improve the quality of care.