Daily digest: Medicaid cuts will hurt WA + First Nations fight fast tracks + lynx kittens!

Happy independence days to Canada and the US: and what better way to celebrate these complicated holidays by reading my latest piece about future independence for Cascadia. And if you like this newsletter, please help out with a paid subscription. I'm trying to hit 75 paid subscribers by the end of July. Thanks! 🇱🇸

Medicaid cuts would hit WA worst

Over at the Seattle Times, Danny Westneat observes that the GOP's proposed budget, (which would slash Medicaid in order to build concentration camps for immigrants) would hit residents of Washington state worst. According to the latest data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 26 percent of people on Medicaid in Washington will lose coverage, the highest rate in the US. Twenty percent of people in Oregon will lose coverage. It's time for Oregon and Washington to get serious about taxing the wealthy and creating a system of universal health care in Cascadia during the next session.

WA sues feds over sending health data to ICE

Washington and 14 other states are suing the federal government for transferring sensitive Medicaid data to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, says KUOW. Meanwhile, activists are asking Gov. Bob Ferguson to issue clemency to a Vietnamese man who was sent to a foreign prison in Djibouti instead of being deported to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Chelan County, in central Washington, is doing the right thing and refusing to share immigrant's court proceeding dates and other information with ICE. RANGE Media has a great article on how to support immigrants, including joining rapid response teams organized by Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. Oh, and there's always the ICE Block App. You didn't hear it from me.

Portland waives fees to build housing

OPB reports that Portland is waiving fees intended to fund sewer and electric upgrades with the intent of boosting apartment construction. Meanwhile, Seattle banned landlords from using rent-setting software that drives up rent prices. Oh and a bunch of rich conservative chuds are funding ballot initiatives in Washington that aim to roll back parking reform and transit-oriented-development laws aimed at making housing more affordable.

First Nations to challenge fast-track bills

At CBC, there's a report on how British Columbia First Nations say a suite of "fast-track" bills aimed at speeding up the review process for mines and fossil fuel projects don't meet legal requirements for Indigenous consultation. The Narwhal has more on the fervor in newly-patriotic Canada for "fast-tracking" climate destructive projects such as dams and pipelines. Find more at the Narwhal on the proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline across British Columbia, which faces intense opposition from some First Nations.

You need some lynx kittens today

And finally, some news we all can use: according to 560 KPQ, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation announced they have discovered the first two lynx kittens seen on Colville lands in 40 years. The tribe is working to re-introduce the Canadian lynx, or "wápupxn" to the wild.

Have a happy weekend, I'm away until Monday. --Andrew Engelson