As BIPOC Washingtonians, we all want our communities to have what they need to keep our families healthy and fed, get an education, and make it through the pandemic without leaving behind those of us with the least money.
However, our system continues to allow the wealthiest individuals and corporations in our state to get away with not paying their share in investments in our communities. Asking our lowest-income neighbors to pay 17% of their income into state and local taxes while the wealthy few pay just 3% is a choice we don’t have to keep making.
We did such a good job making ourselves heard for the Wealth Tax and Recovery Rebate, with only *nine* of the ~2500 sign-ins being opposition!
However, our opposition has heard us loud and clear as well and is already mobilizing against these bills that would ask the wealthy few to chip in - about a third of the sign-ins for the upcoming hearing are opposition! Will you sign in to show your representatives that the people of Washington want the wealthy to start paying their share? Before the hearings this afternoon and Thursday morning:
Sign in PRO for HB 1465: A more progressive estate tax on the 60 most wealthy families in Washington will generate over $100 million every year for homelessness, foreclosure prevention, rental assistance, and other services which address current and historical racial inequities.
Sign in PRO for HB 1494/HJR 4204: An anti-displacement measure would exempt the first $250,000 from state property taxes, allowing families and seniors more opportunity to stay in their homes and prevent displacement.
Sign in PRO for HB 1496: Investments in childcare and our economic recovery would be funded by a capital gains tax (including stocks and bonds, expensive art, and other high-valued assets). This tax would almost exclusively be paid by the wealthiest 1% of households.
You can also tell your legislators you support these three bills with one click.
Thank you for your support! It’s far past time we ask the wealthiest in our state to contribute more to help kick-start our economy and keep working families from going under. Together, we can rebuild an economy where people of every race and income level can have what they need to thrive.
