The Newsfeed: A breakdown of WA Cares Initiative 2124

We interviewed both Let’s Go Washington communications director Hallie Balch and Washington State Nurses Association president Justin Gill to get their sides on the initiative.

Let’s Go Washington argues that if Washington Cares is as good as its supporters say, they should not be worried about people opting out.

Technically, workers can already apply for exemptions, but they say that process is complicated, and the initiative would make it simple to opt out.

Program supporters say making it voluntary will destroy its financial viability because like any insurance program, it requires a lot of people paying into the system to support the fewer people collecting payouts.