Washington state Democrats spent $20 million in taxpayer funds on a healthcare program that covered just 173 noncitizens.
Let that number sink in. One hundred and seventy three people. That works out to roughly $115,000 per person. And the program was originally designed to help 1,200 noncitizen residents. As reported here, the Democrat controlled state legislature fast tracked approval of this initiative, partnering with NGO migrant advocacy groups to ram it through.
Here is where the math gets absolutely wild. The original $20 million was supposed to fund coverage for at least 300 noncitizens during the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year. The cash ran dry before they even reached 200 enrollees. Now officials are estimating it could take $100 million or more just to cover the original 300 person target. And to extend benefits to the full 1,200 noncitizens? That could require another $100 million annually, according to Democratic state Rep. Nicole Macri.
The Service Employees International Union, known as SEIU, was a major force behind getting this program greenlit. Union secretary treasurer Adam Glickman called the 173 person result both "disappointing" and "frustrating." You think? Taxpayers are probably using much stronger language right about now.
So why did this program even exist in the first place? Democrats in Washington created it as a response to the Trump administration's Medicaid cuts, which eliminated coverage for noncitizens. State officials say roughly 14,000 noncitizens will lose their Medicaid benefits by October. The new state program was supposed to fill that gap. Instead, it burned through its entire budget covering a tiny fraction of those who needed it.
Now activists and advocacy groups are cranking up the pressure on state Democrats to pour even more millions into the program. SEIU 775 leadership is leaning hard on lawmakers, arguing that unionized home healthcare workers could lose their jobs if the funding dries up. But even Glickman acknowledges the political reality is grim. "Getting the entire thing seems pretty challenging, given this budget situation," he admitted, adding that the union is pushing legislators to allocate whatever they can.
Washington state is already grappling with budget shortfalls and deficit concerns, making another massive spending package a tough sell, even in a deep blue legislature.
Conservative critics are having a field day. They point to this debacle as a textbook illustration of what happens when government tries to spend its way through every problem. The old saying about socialism rings especially loud here: sooner or later, you burn through everyone else's money.
Twenty million dollars. One hundred seventy three people. And Democrats want to multiply that spending by five or ten times. Washington taxpayers might want to sit down before they see their next tax bill.
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