Hey – Steph here with an exciting update for you: A recent study named Civic Action’s home state, Washington, the No. 1 strongest economy in the country. (You can read more about the study here.)

This isn’t an accident. Just as income inequality and an economy that favors the ultra-rich is a policy choice, so is building a strong, stable economy from the middle out. And Washington’s No. 1 ranking is a result of policy choices both before and during COVID.

Washington entered the pandemic with some of the strongest middle-class economic policies and services in the country – the highest state minimum wage, paid sick and safe leave, paid family and medical leave, restored overtime protections for salaried workers, and more. When COVID-19 hit, the trickle-downers had their usual knee-jerk calls for budget cuts and slashes to safety net services – exactly the kind of mistake that slowed our country and our state’s economic recovery from the 2008 recession.

Thankfully, Washington leaders rejected failed, disproven trickle-down theories thanks in large part to advocacy from grassroots groups like Civic Action (you!).

Instead of reactionary cuts, Washington did the exact opposite: We increased investments in critical services; expanded financial support for workers, families, and small businesses; passed a tax credit for working families; extended enhanced unemployment benefits; and passed a tax on the extraordinary capital gains profits of the super-rich. We rejected budget cuts and invested in a recovery from the middle out.

It’s really simple to understand why these policies have worked: A strong recovery and a healthy economy means ensuring everyone can afford to participate in it. When workers have more money in their pockets, they spend more at local businesses, which in turn make more money and hire more people. It’s a virtuous cycle that we’ve proved to be true. And while there is much more to do to make sure the prosperity created from our economic success is shared, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made.

And now, we have the strongest economy in the nation to show for it.

Washington sets the example for building a strong economy from the middle out. Will you help us spread the word by sharing this article about Washington’s strong economy?

Thanks for reading, 

Steph
Team Civic Action