A FAIR Washington

There is no social justice without economic justice.

Washington is a state of abundance, with some of the richest individuals and corporations in the world and some of the highest rates of worker unionization in the country. Nobody here should be struggling. Washingtonians don’t have to wait on Washington, D.C. to advance labor rights, to protect consumers from greedy corporations, or to build affordable housing. A better Washington is a fair Washington – and a fair Washington implements five kinds of programs to ensure that all Washingtonians prosper:

1. Progressive Revenue

Major corporations must pay what they owe.

2. Labor Rights

The 43rd LD deserves a legislature that works as hard as they do.

3. Affordable Housing

An affordably housed Washington is a healthy Washington.

4. Social Safety Net Spending

No Washingtonian should struggle financially.

5. Consumer Protections

Let’s stop nickel-and-diming Washingtonians out of shared prosperity.

Progressive Revenue

Pursue and implement a statewide wealth tax.

Pay for social housing with a tax on mega real estate transactions (“REET 2.0”).

Close corporate loopholes and end unnecessary tax breaks for major corporations.

Track and tax vacant domiciles to expand the Affordable Homes Act.

Increase human service worker pay with a tax on excess compensation.

Fully fund state labor contracts with a tax on capital asset transactions.

Increase the B&O tax rate to expand the Workforce Education Investment Act.

Enact a Munitions Excise Tax on all war/weapons manufacturers doing business in Washington.

Labor Rights

Implement a mandatory upward biennial C.O.L.A. in the statewide minimum wage.

Ban captive audience meetings.

Enforce a universal right-to-strike for all public sector employees.

Allow striking workers to maintain healthcare coverage during strikes.

Establish a minimum wage for all incarcerated laborers.

Institute fair pay and facilitated job re-entry for incarcerated firefighters.

Authorize Dept. of Labor & Industries to recognize repetitive strain injuries.

Enforce prevailing wage and labor standards on state construction projects.

Enact a comprehensive Sex Workers’/Strippers Bill of Rights.

Guarantee sick leave for all Washington State rail workers.

Force companies with warehouses to notify workers of all production quotas.

Ratify Machinist District Council 751’s “Climate Jobs Washington Act.”

Affordable Housing

Implement statewide rent control.

Expand the Apple Health and Homes act’s ability to acquire land and construct social housing.

Track and guide effective implementation of the Covenants Homeownership Act.

Support efforts to expand the construction of affordable housing through zoning reform.

Implement Tenant- and State-Opportunity to Purchase Laws.

Permit rent to count towards credit scores.

Establish and maintain a permanent funding source of Seattle’s Public Development Authority.

Disallow landlords from cutting off online rent payments to pay late rent.

Cap rental move-in fees.

Social Safety Net Spending

Establish a statewide Guaranteed Basic Income Program.

Update all cash assistance spending levels with C.O.L.A. adjustments

Increase state T.A.N.F. spending that goes towards direct cash assistance.

Increase the maximum Diversion Cash Assistance payment to $2000 and upwardly adjust biennially for C.O.L.A.

Broaden hardship exemptions and increase time limits for all cash assistance programs.

Replace state benefits lost by individuals due to E.B.T. card fraud.

Consumer Protections

Establish a far-reaching statewide student loan forgiveness program.

Motivate state acquisition of student loan and medical debt.

Regulate “Home Equity Sharing Agreements” as all other loans are regulated.

Cap interest fees on payday loans.