Update: Fight to get “Jason McKissack Act” through the Senate

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One day after our first report that public-safety advocates were pleading for support to keep EHB 1679, the “Jason McKissack Act” – whose namesake suffered brain damage in an attack while on the job as a police officer in West Seattle – here’s where things stand: Tomorrow remains the deadline for bills to get out of the Ways and Means Committee, or be dead for the year. Law-enforcement lobbyist and police widow Renee Maher, who sounded the alarm last night, is among those working around the clock – she tells WSB, “The idea of losing this bill breaks my heart in more ways than words can describe.” She testified at public hearings before both houses’ Ways and Means Committees (we went to Olympia to cover both – here’s our report from last Monday). Maher reiterates that keeping up the pressure is vital – Senator Margarita Prentice, Ways and Means chair, will make the decision on whether there’s a vote; she also recommends contacting Sen. Lisa Brown, Senate Majority Leader, because “it’s important that she knows how much this issue means to the community.” West Seattle’s State Senator Joe McDermott is on the committee as well, and commented following yesterday’s story, ” I have spoken to Senator Prentice … and Senator Brown … reminding them again of the compelling testimony we heard at the hearing and underscoring the need to move the bill out of committee. … Continued positive encouragement is always welcome in a legislative environment.”

Contact info:
Sen. Margarita Prentice (360) 786-7616 prentice.margarita@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Lisa Brown (360) 786-7604 Brown.Lisa@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Joe McDermott (360) 786-7667 mcdermott.joe@leg.wa.gov
Full membership of Ways and Means (with phone numbers – follow links to their home pages for e-mail addresses)

The committee meets at 1:30 pm tomorrow, and its agenda is apparently still a work in progress – its latest version is online here.

Celeste February 28, 2010 (7:12 pm)

Sent my emails.

service dog academy February 28, 2010 (7:14 pm)

being the daughter of a disabled on the job law enforcement officer i beg you to call your senator and ask them to vote for this act. my father lost his steady paycheck after being disabled while on the job, we almost lost the family home, i lost my college tuition, and he had to FIGHT to get disability. this is crazy! law enforcement officers risk their lives for us, we should give back something back to them!

elikapeka February 28, 2010 (8:17 pm)

E-mails sent. Another example of how broken our health care system is.

Melissa February 28, 2010 (8:39 pm)

I’ve called and left messages for Sen. Prentice and Sen. Brown. Had trouble not getting all weepy as I left those messages. The fact that this isn’t already in place & that Prentice might let it die in committee is criminal!!

Candy Berg February 28, 2010 (9:14 pm)

Hello please if you get this tonight continue to call both Margarita Prentice as well as Lisa Brown. I do not think they realize the extent of the damage that will happen if this does not pass. This is what I know personally. The McKissack family will not have any health coverage at all. They most likely will lose their home. From just the leaking source of info that Ive heard is that they think this is not a hugely important thing and there is no emergency that needs this passed NOW. The fact that not only this family but one additional family would receive the care they need has not sunk in as a priority. Please Please call and be sure to spread the word. Thank you West Seattle Blog for your support. This family is in crisis and they need to know they can survive. Thank you so much.

Melissa February 28, 2010 (9:53 pm)

Ms. Berg, I just called every last one of those senators on Ways and Means. I owe Officer McKissack that, at least. Please let me know what else I might do to help.

rw February 28, 2010 (10:01 pm)

This affects us all. Many are struggling in these hard times. We all have stories of people we know who have hit unimagineable hard times. It is the time to stop and come out of our boxes and help others. If you don’t know it now you will know it soon. The legislature works for us we have a voice. This is a chance to right a wrong- the legal system failed Jason let’s not let our government officials who work for us too fail him too.

Michael February 28, 2010 (10:18 pm)

Thank you RW. It breaks my heart every time I hear a story about some working stiff with no healthcare who gets hurt on the job and doesn’t have any insurance. But I’m afraid this bill is another knee jerk reaction by the same sentimentalists who got us into the war in Iraq because, well, by god, we love our heroes. Get a grip.

rw February 28, 2010 (11:05 pm)

Michael – I guess I am speaking from experience as my husband does the same job that McKissack did (until beaten to brain damage of course). This isn’t about loving heroes this is about HELPING OTHERS. Maybe YOU need to get a grip and take your comments to the rant section.

Good guy February 28, 2010 (11:16 pm)

Michael, please take your political agenda somewhere else. This isn’t the forum. If you want to grumble about the war in Iraq, I’m sure there are numerous other sites. Or go get Tim Eyman to start an initiative for you. This story is about a local hero who needs our help. I for one plan to do whatever I can.