At their February 6, 2020 Central Committee meeting, the elected Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) reviewed, discussed and passed a Resolution on the subject of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Facilities.
The Resolution reads as follows:
RESOLUTION
By The
CLALLAM COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
On The Subject Of Medication Assisted Treatment Facilities
Whereas, The Washington State Legislature has appropriated $7.2M for the construction of a large scale, Regional Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic (the mega-clinic) for the treatment of opioid dependency to be constructed by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on a sole-source basis.
Whereas, No public involvement was solicited or accommodated in the legislative process.
Whereas, This Regional MAT center is to be located in the heart of Sequim, Washington.
Whereas, This Regional MAT center is opposed by many citizens within the Sequim community.
Whereas, Adequate MAT facilities already exist or are planned to open in the near term throughout Clallam County.
Whereas, The State Legislature intends to grant operating authority for this mega-clinic as a government concession to a specific consortium of business interests without competition.
Whereas, The operating costs of this mega-clinic will be Federal Government funds accessed through Medicaid and like programs.
Whereas, The State Legislature is contemplating funding for as of yet unspecified extensions to this facility.
Therefore, The Clallam County Republican Party finds that
- This regional mega-clinic is not in the best interests of the citizens Sequim and the surrounding region.
- There are better, decentralized ways to treat the scourges of drug addiction and mental health issues.
- The moneys appropriated could be better spent supporting localized treatment centers, both medication-assisted and therapy based.
Therefore, The Clallam County Republican Party urges that
- The City of Sequim deny any permit for the building of any mega-clinic within the boundaries of the City.
- The Washington State Legislature redirect funding for the mega-clinic to community-based addiction treatment centers as needed
- Clallam County Commissioners develop and oversee a plan for these funds to be spent in a manner of greatest benefit to the Clallam County in an open and transparent manner utilizing to the greatest extent possible all available resources of the county.
Resolution was passed at the Clallam County Central Committee meeting on Feb. 6, 2020.
