2SSB 5597 passed the House 84-10

April 6th – Our bill passed out of the House today with an 84-Yea 10-Nay, 4 excused, vote. Right up until the bill was scheduled for floor consideration, insurance and business lobbyists were working strongly against us. They have been passing out propaganda that was meant to misconstrue and confuse our issues with those of vacation relief and delegation of duties.

Early on April 5, 2007, President of the Trust, Dr. Dave Butters, WSCA President Dr. Mike Schweitzer, and WSCA Executive Director, Lori Bielinski met with the Governor to discuss the reasons for needing legislation. We explained the merits of the bill, and then the politics. After the initial meeting, the Governor requested that we meet with her staff and the representatives from business and insurance. The goal of this meeting was to assure that we were all talking about the same effects of the bill. We agreed to many changes that would tighten up the intent, and the effects of the language yet the opposition still admitted that they would not agree to the need, or the merits, of the bill. While the leaders of the WSCA met with the Governor, chiropractors from the entire state, to include the WSCA Board of Directors, Washington Chiropractic Trust, and doctors from Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima and Wenatchee met with Representatives to assure their vote.

This helped to renew our effort to make sure that each member of the House was fully aware of the intent on the bill and to clear up any last minute confusion And it worked! Final passage of 2SSB 5997 delivered an 84-10 vote in favor of out bill. It was an excellent vote for us and much of the strength of the vote comes from Rep. Richard Curtis-R, Vancouver (our House Sponsor) and Rep. Eileen Cody D-Seattle ( Chair of the House Health Care Committee) who held their caucuses together and worked very closely with us in order to present our bill on the floor.

Our next step is moving the bill back over to the Senate for a concurrence to the changes made in the House and then on to the Governor’s desk for her signature.

Governor Gregoire has the final say on the bill. She can veto a section, or the entire bill, or she can sign the bill into law.

We strongly encourage you to have your patients write a letter (can be emailed) to the governor asking for her to support 2SSB 5597 so that they (the patient) can have continuity of care by being able to see any chiropractor in the clinic they go to.

Write Governor Gregoire a Letter:

Governor Chris Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Fax Governor Gregoire a Letter:

(360) 753-4110

Or email:

http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp