MY EXPERIENCE AT LEGISLATIVE DAY 2026


Robert Perkes, DC President, WSCA Board of Directors


Beep Beep BEEP…4:00 am. The alarm keeps going off. I am less impressed. This seemed like a better idea a few weeks ago.


I roll over. Maybe Snoqualmie Pass will be closed… a quick scroll tells me it’s not. I drag myself out of bed.


Stumbling down the hall I wake my boy with a knock and whisper. It has become a rite of passage for my sons to make a trip to Olympia with their dad. I’m on my fourth and last son.


He jumps out of bed. His young legs are mocking me. He is excited. It’s his first time to see the Capital. He also knows that he gets four hours of his dad’s time each way to talk and ask questions. If he plays his cards right, a stop at Burger Master in Issaquah.


A quick stop at a local spot to fill the car and our bellies. We are off to the West Side. It is not a short ride, but it is important.


We park in the furthest visitor parking. We can ride the DASH bus, but after the drive we need the walk to wake our legs up.


The buildings are impressive. They feel important. So is our work.


10 www .ch ir oh ealth.or g


We meet with the other DCs and Lori Grassi, WSCA’s Executive of Legislation and Policy. We have to take pictures for Plexus and our website. After a few clicks, Lori gets us up to date on the legislative issues in front of us this day.


We have been getting almost daily updates on our bill. We also get updated on the bills that could affect us. The bills and moods on campus change everyday. It is hard to keep track of alone.


This morning we get our final update. There is a cheat sheet. Lori knows we aren’t that smart…We can take it with us but we can’t leave it behind.


We have a few appointments scheduled today. It has gotten easier to do. A few emails back and forth with a legislative assistant and we have a spot on the calendar. We just can’t be late.


We have a little time. I give the boy a mini tour. I’ve taken the real tour a couple times and remember the highlights. Guided tours start every hour from 11-3 on the second floor during the week.


We visit the galleries overlooking the floor. They are modeled after those in DC and feel “right”. It is really impressive.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32