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- Washington
Hundreds Rally in Olympia Against Cuts to Public Services
Working families call on state leaders to address budget shortfall and tax fairness
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
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Hundreds of people gathered in Olympia, Washington on Thursday to protest proposed cuts to public programs that they say will harm poor and working families. The rally, organized by Firelands Workers United, featured speakers sharing personal stories about the importance of subsidized childcare and other public services.
Why it matters
The Washington state legislature is considering cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from a childcare program for low-income families in order to balance the budget. Critics argue these cuts will devastate families who rely on these services to be able to work and make ends meet.
The details
Both the state House and Senate are proposing the childcare program cuts as part of efforts to balance the budget. Speakers at the rally, including single mother and community coordinator Sol Gonzalez, shared how these cuts would impact their families and communities. State Rep. Travis Couture criticized the Democrats' proposals as 'reckless,' while Democrats argued the cuts are necessitated by federal reductions to programs like Medicaid.
- The rally took place on Thursday, February 27, 2026 in Olympia, Washington.
- Lawmakers have until March 12, 2026 to agree on the final state budget.
The players
Sol Gonzalez
A single mother of three and bilingual community information and education coordinator for South Sound Parent to Parent, who works with families of children with disabilities and relies on childcare subsidies to be able to work.
Travis Couture
A Republican state representative from Allyn, Washington who criticized the Democrats' budget proposals as 'reckless' over-spending.
Firelands Workers United
The organization that organized the rally in Olympia against the proposed public service cuts.
What they’re saying
“I'm earning an income and still working extra hours so I can make necessities and what my daughters are needing, so it's going to be really devastating for my family and many other families in the state.”
— Sol Gonzalez, Single mother and community coordinator (Public News Service)
“Working families are needing the supports, and it's not fair that the very rich are not paying what they are supposed to pay.”
— Sol Gonzalez, Single mother and community coordinator (Public News Service)
“Our voices matter, so please speak up – don't quiet yourself. We have this right to advocate [for] what we truly need and what we deserve as a community.”
— Sol Gonzalez, Single mother and community coordinator (Public News Service)
What’s next
Lawmakers have until the end of the legislative session on March 12, 2026 to agree on a final state budget that will determine the fate of the proposed cuts to public services.
The takeaway
This rally highlights the tensions between lawmakers' budget priorities and the real-world impacts on working families who rely on public programs to make ends meet. It also underscores the ongoing debate around tax fairness and whether the wealthy are paying their fair share to support essential public services.
