Rep. Joshua Penner: House Bill 2051 is irresponsible budgeting that hurts the disabled
In this floor speech, Rep. Joshua Penner, R-Orting, speaks out against House Bill 2051—a proposal he says undermines health care access for some of Washington’s most vulnerable residents.
Penner argues the bill strips critical support from hospitals caring for individuals with severe developmental disabilities who have nowhere else to go due to the state’s lack of available community placements.
“Right now, we are using hospitals as a backstop for complex care that should be happening elsewhere—but the infrastructure doesn’t exist. And instead of investing in care, this bill pulls support away from the very people we should be protecting,” said Penner.
He shares a heartbreaking account from a nurse in Whatcom County, who testifies that disabled individuals are being warehoused in hospital rooms for months—even years—without proper support. Hospitals are left to shoulder the cost and burden.
“This is not responsible budgeting,” Penner says. “This is irresponsible—and it’s cruel. Vote no if you care about disabled kids in our communities. Vote no if you believe in continuing health care. Vote no if you believe in doing the right thing.”
Watch Penner’s full remarks and learn more about the consequences of HB 2051.
