I’m worried that our state is looking in the wrong place for solutions to our budget crisis by closing programs that will directly harm tens of thousands of people.

The same amount of money could be saved just by closing a few tax loopholes for wealthy corporations, which get billions of dollars in state tax breaks every year. If sacrifices are needed, then it’s only fair that they should be shared — not required mainly from those least able to afford it.

Working at a hospital, I see firsthand how economic hard times are hurting people in our community. More people are showing up in emergency rooms because they can’t afford health insurance. People with mental illness or substance abuse problems can’t get the help they need, and often wind up at the hospital, too.

It’s a no-brainer that when times are tough, more people will need a little extra help getting by —  and that places a greater need on health care and social service programs that serve low-income people — programs like Basic Health and the Disability Lifeline.

But instead of finding a way to expand these programs to meet the need, the state is cutting them to plug its budget holes. Those cuts will make life harder for many people already struggling to get by. It will mean more people showing up in emergency rooms, homeless shelters and jails.

Everyone I know understands that when times are tough, some sacrifices need to be made by everyone in the community including wealthy corporations. Families and small business already have done their share. That’s why I think we need to look at all our budget options, like closing those tax loopholes before cutting essential services like health care and education.

In particular, the state should look at taking back some of the $6.5 billion worth of state tax loopholes we’re currently giving to corporations every year. Some of those tax breaks are probably beneficial to the people of Washington. But we should put them all on the table for consideration before cutting services that our families, neighbors and patients rely on. That’s the kind of fairness that real accountability demands.

– Wanda Gardner, certified nursing assistant, Valley Medical Center