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Hi John,
Forty more days to go in this year’s legislative session!
Several bills that would put cash in the pockets of people who need it most have passed key deadlines and are picking up steam. This stands in stark contrast to the extensive cuts the legislature made during the last economic downturn in 2008. This year, legislation to narrow the massive wealth gap in our state – legislation that you’ve advocated for for years – have made *unprecedented* strides!
Before last week, Washington legislators had NEVER voted on a proposal to tax capital gains, which are the profits from the sale of property or stocks. This year, SB 5096, a bill enacting a tax on high-end capital gains passed the Senate and is now being considered in the House! During yesterday morning’s hearing in the House Finance Committee, Drayton Jackson representing Poverty Action and the Steering Committee to the Governor’s Poverty Reduction Work Group, asked representatives: “I want my children to have generational wealth but, how can I do that in a system that is biased and structurally racist, and is not working for those who are not at the top?"
And yesterday afternoon, Shaun Scott, Poverty Action Policy and Field Campaign Manager, testified to senators in the Ways & Means Committee that under current law, Black and brown homeowners pay a higher price to reap fewer benefits of homeownership. Earlier this month, the House unanimously voted in favor of HB 1410, a bill that eliminates 14% in penalties and interest on past-due property taxes.
The support and movement of these bills demonstrate a shift in how our elected representatives respond to community needs. They represent critical stepping stones in the direction of a state we can all thrive in. Let’s keep up the momentum!
Take action NOW to keep key bills moving:
- Today at 1:30pm, the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee will hear testimony on HB 1297, the Working Families Tax Credit, which would provide 1 in 6 households in Washington with a direct cash payment between $500 and $950. The credit was enacted in 2008 and this year, we have a good chance at getting it finally funded. But we must keep the pressure on!
Click here to sign in pro NOW before 12:30pm on Tuesday, March 16 (or click here to message your state senator).
- On Thursday, March 18 at 1:30pm, the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans will hold a hearing on SB 5214, a bill that would increase access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) during times of economic crisis.
Email lawmakers to include at least a 15% TANF grant increase in this year’s state budget.
Thank you for all your hard work to get us this far. Let’s keep the pressure on!
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