July 31st, 2025
In this issue:
- Adviser to governor warns residents could lose health care ‘immediately’ due to federal changes
- They’re rich. They’re anti-Trump. And they don’t want their big tax cut.
- Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666 times more than his workers in 2024
“We are here today and we are saying loud and clear: Families come first. Not billionaires, not sell-out politicians, certainly not ICE.” -Sterling Harders, President, SEIU 775
Last Saturday, teachers, parents, and healthcare workers across the country came together to send lawmakers a clear message that we won’t stay quiet about the horrific healthcare and food stamp cuts that Trump’s Congress just passed.
These cuts are already being felt. The Governor’s Office estimates that as many as 80,000 people could lose healthcare coverage starting in January, and ultimately, around 250,000 residents will lose Medicaid coverage, while around 150,000 people will be priced out of the state’s health care exchange. We simply can’t afford this cruelty.
It’s time to fix our upside down tax code and restore funding to these services that families count on. This work has never been more important.
-Treasure
ADVISER TO GOVERNOR WARNS RESIDENTS COULD LOSE HEALTHCARE ‘IMMEDIATELY’ DUE TO FEDERAL CHANGES
“We’re going to start seeing coverage losses pretty immediately,” Caitlin Safford, a senior policy adviser for the Office of the Governor, told members of the Senate health and long-term care committee. “Between the combination of federal rule, HR-1 and the potential expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, we’re going to start seeing coverage losses in January.”
Safford’s testimony came as state officials continue to review the impact of the legislation, which includes, among other things, more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade by imposing new work requirements and other reforms to the program.
More – Mitchell Roland, The Spokesman-Review
THEY’RE RICH. THEY’RE ANTI-TRUMP. AND THEY DON’T WANT THEIR BIG TAX CUT.
Hoover’s accountant estimates that the new tax law that President Donald Trump signed this month will save her several million dollars over the next few years. While many Americans might rejoice at that kind of windfall, Hoover worked hard to stop it from becoming a reality, arguing to lawmakers that she has more money than she needs.
“At some point, it starts to feel wrong. It starts to feel excessive. It starts to feel somehow inappropriate. And at some point, it just doesn’t feel good,” said Hoover, who spoke while on break from a sapphic literature conference she helps sponsor in Albany. “Imbalanced is really not good for anyone, even if you’re on the positive end of that imbalance, because it’s unsustainable.”
More – Jeff Stein, The Washington Post
STARBUCKS’ CEO MADE 6,666 TIMES MORE THAN HIS WORKERS IN 2024
“Tax policy is an important tool to mitigate injustices confronting marginalized communities and to advance genuine racial equity. Done well, tax reform can create a dream scenario of equitable taxation and well-funded public services for everyone. It can also create a nightmare of regressive taxation and weak public investment.
Programs that help families of color succeed focus on equity, economic stability, and liberation. Washington state’s Supreme Court upheld the state’s new tax on capital gains exceeding $250,000. The policy, which recently went into effect, is estimated to bring in approximately $849 million in its first year, much higher than earlier projections. Most of the new revenue will go to education, with any revenue above $500 million going to one-time school construction projects.
Rather than top-heavy tax cutting that widens the racial wealth gap, states should consider strengthening refundable tax credits that are targeted to low-income families and boosting revenue through progressive tax increases on high-earners and corporations.”
More – Michael Sainato, The Guardian
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