Washington state family child care providers Laura Tansy and Dora Herrera (the governor's own former child care provider), members of SEIU Local 925, are speaking out for the need to protect child care services, as Gov. Christine Gregoire introduces her constitutionally-required balanced budget.

The budget would also end the state's Basic Health Plan--which covers 65,000 low income workers and their children--end general assistance to those unable to work and cut one-third of the budget for child care assistance. Read more of the ugly details here and here on Schmudget, a Washington State budget and policy blog.