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Hi John,
It’s here—the first day of the 2020 Legislative Session!
This year we’ve got a 60 day supplemental session, which means it’ll run from today, January 13 through Thursday, March 12. Bills that weren’t passed in 2019 will have the chance to be voted on again in 2020, and they will retain their placement in the legislature. We’re happy to report that last legislative session the majority of our 2019 priorities were passed! That means that even though this year’s session is a bit shorter than last year’s, we’ve got a full list of policy priorities that we are working hard to pass over the next couple months. Read on for a quick summary of our priorities, and check out our full policy agenda online here.
Our 2020 areas of focus are:
Strengthening Basic Needs Assistance
We support policy changes and investments in basic needs programs that center a path to stability for adults, children, and people with disabilities. This session we’re working to strengthen Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) by undoing harsh policy changes and re-instating the Child Support Pass-Through; eliminate the Shelter Penalty for all state assistance programs; significantly raise the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) cash grant; and create a Homelessness Prevention Pilot Program that will smooth the transition to federal disability assistance in high-cost regions of the state. Read more about our basic needs priorities here.
Tax Reform
Our state tax code is long overdue for an overhaul. In our state, families making the least pay up to six time more in taxes as a share of their income than the state’s wealthiest households. We believe that a key step to re-balancing the state tax code is funding the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), and we also support modernizing the Tax Credit to expand eligibility for workers without children; recognize immigrant workers; and use a modern definition of work to include low-income college students and people caring for a family member. Read more about our tax reform priorities here.
Dental Therapy
Dental care is a human right—but for too many Washingtonians of color and Washingtonians who live in low-income and/or rural communities, dental care is unaffordable and inaccessible. We support dental therapy, which, if passed, will expand access to affordable and routine dental care by allowing dental therapists to practice in all communities across the state. Read more about dental therapy here.
Justice Reform
We support policies that provide opportunities for people to reclaim their lives, support their families, and participate fully in community life after serving a prison sentence. This session, we’re advocating for the Clean Slate Act, which would create automatic record clearing once a person fulfills their requirements to the state. Read more about our justice reform priorities here.
Consumer Protections
We support transparent and robust policies that protect Washingtonians when they borrow money or fall into debt. This session, we’re building on our 2019 consumer protection wins and advocating for further regulations on debt buyer practices and an investment in foreclosure prevention programs. Read more about our consumer protection priorities here.
As always, YOUR stories, phone calls, emails, and visits to Olympia will be the most essential part of this advocacy work. We are so grateful to have such a strong network of community advocates and are looking forward working alongside you in 2020 for a more just Washington state! Keep an eye on your inbox and our social media (facebook, twitter, Instagram) for opportunities to make your voice heard on important issues affecting Washington communities. And on that note—tomorrow is the LAST DAY to register for our 2020 Lobby Day! Join us and hundreds of Washingtonians in Olympia on January 20, for a day of advocacy and power-building. We offer an advocacy training, lunch, guided lawmaker visits, and activities—all for free! Transportation and childcare also provided. Visit our website for more details and for registration.
Connect With Us:Facebook [#] Contact Info:Statewide Poverty Action Network
1501 N 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
United States
Twitter [#]
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