Rally for Basic Health

While Governor Christine Gregoire will be giving her ``State of the State'' message next Tuesday (Jan 12) in Olympia a group called Sisters Organize for Survival will hold a State of Emergency Rally for Basic Health. As part of a campaign to defend the state Basic Health Plan, S.O.S will rally on the capitol steps while Gregoire addresses the legislature. S.O.S is calling for the reversal of cuts to Basic Health and other life-and-death services by instituting a tax on the wealthy and cooperate profits. The group also has over 3,000 signatures supporting Basic Health to be hand-delivered to elected officials that day.
Washington state has the most regressive taxes in the country. With a state sales tax system, the poorest pay 17 percent of their income in taxes and the rich only three percent. When a person earns their second million dollars it's untaxed; financial consultants are untaxed. S.O.S supports a progressive income tax. ``Basic Health along with other social services and public education could be funded by taxing the profits of the largest corporations and the incomes of the state's wealthiest -including the tens of thousnads of millionaires who reside here,'' says Gina Petry, S.O.S. coordinator.
For anyone wishing to travel to Olympia next Tuesday, carpools will leave from New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S. at 9:00am. For more information call (206) 722-6057, http://www.savebasichealth.org/. Donations welcome.