IT’S NOT OVER
We fought to pass the capital gains tax, beat back an initiative to repeal it, and defend it in court. And we’re not done!
We’re still pointing out and lifting up the benefits of the capital gains tax, showcasing what can happen when we ask the wealthy to pay what they truly owe in taxes, and reminding lawmakers that there’s still work to do when it comes to fixing our upside-down tax code.
Here are a few recent examples:
- We worked with our colleagues at Washington Budget & Policy Center to place a regular column by Lu Hill in the Spokesman Review. In Lu’s most recent piece, she reminds us that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are hurt most by our upside-down tax code. Until we fix it, we compound the harm from other racist policies, like red-lining housing policies, discriminatory banking practices, and other actions that have prevented Black and brown people from building wealth and passing it on.
- Our colleague Kristin Hyde wrote a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times praising the community for coming together to save beloved school programs, like band and mock trial. But she warns legislators not to rely on private donations to save public schools. We must fix our tax code so that kids can have the future they deserve.
- We helped two parties that sometimes don’t agree to find common ground about sustainable school funding. Jennifer Matter, president of Seattle Education Association, and Vivian Song Maritz, a board member of Seattle Public Schools, co-authored a guest editorial in the Seattle Times about the need for a more equitable school funding model. Fundamentally, it must start with our tax code. Legislators should build on the progress of the capital gains tax so kids, educators, and administrators won’t face more budget cuts.
We will continue to tell stories and share visions for our communities that can be realized when our tax code is more fair and the wealthy pay what they owe. Together, we’ll build on the progress to balance our tax code.
Let’s go!