“Our nation’s promise that we are all endowed with ‘unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ will never be fulfilled unless we recognize that health care is a right. Washington should lead the way in exploring and demonstrating how every resident of our State can be assured that they and their loved ones will not die or suffer solely due to lack of access to quality health care. As a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Public Health, I strive to help students understand that the social determinants of health start with poverty and race, which determine access to healthcare and the likelihood that someone will suffer needless illness and die early. The Washington Health Trust offers a concept we should be exploring to use progressive taxes on wealth – which I am confident will be largely supported by the wealthiest residents of our state if they are used for health care – coupled with payroll taxes on large employers who do not provide health care benefits today.”
