Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington State has a nearly $1.5 billion surplus. But Governor Chris Gregoire wants to hold onto most of that money in case the economy takes a dip.

That means lobbyists for the poor are getting turned away at the door. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports on a faltering request for more dental care.

An estimated 1.5 million Washingtonians don’t have dental care. That means they’re not getting six-month cleanings and when they get a toothache they sometimes have nowhere to go.

Doctor Marty Lieberman is medical director for a group of low income dental clinics in the Seattle area. He says his services are maxxed-out.

Marty Lieberman: “Those that we aren’t able to see are and do end up in the emergency room. And in the emergency room there’s not that much that they can do for these patients you know antibiotic and pain relief.”

That’s why Washington’s Community Health Centers are requesting $10 million this year from the legislature. The money would pay for an additional 175,000 visits to the dentist for the uninsured.

Washington has the money in the bank. But this budget request and others like it are likely to wither on the vine. The fact is this is a supplemental budget year and lawmakers are concerned the economy may slide.