2017 Eastaern Washington Legislative Conference

Advocates introduce priorities and issues, suggest ways to act on specific legislation

Jessie Dye of Earth Ministry and Elise DeGooyer of FAN visit.

Paul Benz, co-director of the Faith Action Network, shared about bills for which he is advocating in the Washington State Legislature.

Given that the status of bills changes quickly, FAN has a legislative agenda online at fanwa.org.

That agenda calls for building a more humane and sustainable biennial budget, increasing support for human services and reducing wealth inequality, dismantling the culture of violence, protecting housing and preventing homelessness, and sustaining Washington’s environment.

Details of actions pursued under each priority are listed at http://fanwa.org/legislative-agenda.

FAN also has a bill tracker to help people keep up with the current status of legislation and the most current recommended action.  That information is at http://fanwa.org/advocacy/2017-bill-tracker.

There are also fact sheets on issues and an advocacy toolkit to share with congregations.

FAN has a diverse coalition of people of faith partnering statewide for a just, compassionate and sustainable world.

• Senator Andy Billig and Rep. Marcus Ricelli from Spokane reported on bills they are pursuing in the legislature.

• City Councilwoman Amber Waldref gave an overview of issues the Spokane City Council is addressing.

• Jessie Dye of Earth Ministry and Inland Power and Light encouraged participants to write letters and make phone calls to connect their faith to environmental issues, including efforts to build a clean energy infrastructure.

Its 2017 priorities for Earth Ministries are for energy choices to be healthy for the air and climate, to look at power options past coal, to stand up to big oil and challenge oil-by-rail transport and fossil fuel terminals, to expand efforts to free products and the environment from toxic chemicals to protect children and families, to promote study of Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment, and to protect public lands. 

For information, visit earthministry.org/advocacy.

Copyright © March 2017 - The Fig Tree