Washington State Rally for Environment, Education, and Labor

Monday, February 15, 2010

Olympia, WA — Thousands of people, the crowd size was estimated to be 6,000, rallied on the steps of the Washington State Capitol Legislative Building.

The rally was for the Environment, for Education, and for Labor - as well as against budget cuts that would hurt people.

There were a lot of people advocating for single-payer health care, and also for substantial reform to the tax system. Washington State has the most regressive tax structure of any state in the USA. Some of the proposals in the legislature, like increases to sales taxes, would actually make the tax system even more unfair.

Many of the speeches talked about the need to protect the social safety net, the importance to maintain structures that make society a caring place, and to focus on fairness, equity and justice in the areas of labor environment and education.

None of the speeches during the hour or so long rally touched on the topic of how to raise the revenue.

After the rally I attended a Sisters Organizing for Survival (SOS) meeting. SOS is part of the Radical Women organization. This group is currently organizing an effort toward a progressive state income tax. During the meeting people talked about their experiences at the rally and lobbying for a couple bills that would establish an income tax in the state.

Washington State has the most regressive tax structure of any state in the USA. The poorest pay 17% of their income in taxes, while the richest pay a mere 3%. During the SOS meeting, organizer Megan Cornish mentioned concern that, although the speeches were rousing and raised some good points, none of the speakers at the rally talked about how to raise revenue.

The current situation is unstable. SOS advocates for graduated income taxes and taxes on corporate profits.

During the meeting it was mentioned that in relatively recent decades the federal tax rate on those in the highest income bracket was at about 90%. Currently the federal tax rate is about 35%, and after all the loop-holes those in the highest bracket often pay even less than that. One concept is for the state to make up the difference between the current federal income tax rate and what would be a 90% income tax level for those with the most whom are in the highest income bracket. This makes sense especially in light of the federal government's failure to uphold its end of responsible budgeting and funding for necessary services and social supports.

SOS has been making demands for public hearings on Senate Bills 6250 and 6147.

SB 6250 would establish a graduated personal income tax and reduce state sales and property taxes.

SB 6147 would establish a flat 1% tax on people earning mor ethan $500,000 a year. This money would be earmarked for education.

You are asked to contact members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee:

Senator Margarita Prentice 360-786-7616 (phone); 360-786-1999 (fax) prentice.margarita@leg.wa.gov

Senator Karen Fraser 360 786-7642 (phone); 360-786-1999 (fax) fraser.karen@leg.wa.gov

Senator Rodney Tom 360-786-7450; 360-786-7450 (fax) tom.rodney@leg.wa.gov

Urge them to:

Hold public hearings on 6250 and 6147

Institute a steeply graduate income tax on millionaires, and tax corporate profits

Fully fund Basic Health, education and other vital services!

Photos from the day attached below!


Money for Jobs and Education, Not War!


Social Service Cuts Hurt Kids!


These two have been very nice to me.


Living Wages for Public Workers


Invest in the Future — Invest in Citizenship


Nice folks


Washington CAN Tax the Rich!
Regressive Tax Structure = Problem | Tax Fairness = Solution


Health Care for All, after all Health Care is a Human Right


The sign at the top reads: Fund Basic Health, education and other services — tax the rich and corporate profits!
Sisters Organizing for Survival

There are many more photos of the event posted on my flickr account, including some of Tea Party people.

Berd