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Hinkle receives two state
appointments
13th
District legislator seeks continued involvement with health care issues
State Rep. Bill Hinkle,
R-Cle Elum, has received two state appointments that will allow him to
utilize his experience in health care issues. The 13th District lawmaker
was recently appointed to the
Council on Substance Abuse and the Coverage of Low-Wage Workers Work
Group by Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.
The Council on Substance Abuse’s mission is to reduce substance abuse in
Washington, including alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other materials. The
council develops recommendations, based on community and agency input,
for state and local strategies on substance abuse.
“As a leader on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and with my
background in health care issues since entering public office, this
council appointment is a good fit. I look forward to the experience of
working on a team to put forth ideas for our communities,” said Hinkle.
“Illegal drugs, particularly meth, are a growing problem across the
state. If we don’t address our challenges now, they will only get worse.
I’m confident the council will put forth solutions that will reduce
substance abuse in our communities.”
Hinkle is also on the board of directors of Sundown M Ranch – a drug and
alcohol treatment facility near Selah.
The Coverage of Low-Wage Workers Work Group was established and funded
in the 2007 state operating budget. The group will submit a report to
the Legislature by November related to coverage of low-wage workers
enrolled on state health care plans who are employed by businesses with
more than 50 employees.
“Those familiar with health care issues in the Legislature understand
how important this work group’s recommendations will be. There has been
a sustained effort to mandate that certain-sized employers subsidize
their employees’ health insurance costs. It’s been called ‘pay or play’
or ‘fair share.’ Whatever the vernacular, it’s a bad idea to which I
remain opposed. I believe instead of expanding costly government-run
health care, the state should pursue cost-containment measures that make
private insurance more competitive. This approach would benefit
consumers for years to come,” said Hinkle. “I’m glad that I’ll be
joining two other House Republican lawmakers in providing ideas and
balance to this work group.”
Hinkle is a member of the
Health Care and Wellness Committee, on which he is ranking
Republican, in addition to the
Appropriations and
Early Learning and Children’s Services committees.
Hinkle can be contacted at (509) 933-1238 or
hinkle.bill@leg.wa.gov.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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