March 7, 2025
In this issue:
- Ferguson proposes $4B in cuts, furloughs in face of WA budget shortfall
- Cutting early learning programs hurts families like mine
- Washington lawmakers can address revenue shortfall without cutting important services
- Letter: Fix School Funding
- Ferguson outlines plan to address $15 billion budget shortfall
As lawmakers in Olympia debate how to handle our state’s $12 billion budget gap, one thing is clear: We can’t cut our way out of this hole. Luckily, there are plenty of resources here in Washington to fund the programs that we rely on. All we need to do is ask the wealthy to pay what they owe in taxes – just like the rest of us do. The fact is, our state’s richest 1% contribute a smaller share of their wealth to our education, housing, and health care than the top 1% in Idaho, Montana, and even Texas do.
Can we count on you to help push back against cuts by writing a personalized email to Governor Ferguson and your Representatives? We’ve made it easy. Just visit this link, pick the issue you care about, and customize your email. This is one of the best ways to protect the programs that Washington communities need to thrive.
-Treasure
FERGUSON PROPOSES $4B IN CUTS, FURLOUGHS IN FACE OF WA BUDGET SHORTFALL
By refusing so far to embrace higher taxes, Ferguson has been “only looking at one side of the equation,” said Treasure Mackley, executive director of Invest in Washington Now, in an interview. “We really have to address the real-world impacts that are going to be hurting Washington families.”
For example, she pointed to the governor’s proposals to delay eligibility for public child care and preschool that had been set to take place this year. Kids who miss out on such help at an early age won’t recover — “You can’t rewind the clock,” Mackley said.
More – Jim Brunner, The Seattle Times
CUTTING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS HURTS FAMILIES LIKE MINE
But let’s remember, legislators have choices. Instead of deep cuts that would hurt families, they could choose to fix our tax code in order to pay for critical services like child care, housing, and education. As I might tell my preschool daughters, legislators should understand they don’t just have scissors, they can use glue sticks and tape in the form of taxes on the wealthiest individuals and most profitable corporations. Instead of cuts that would take away services, they could add money that would protect programs and help working families like mine.
There are many progressive revenue options for them to consider, like a previously introduced tax on stocks and bonds or closing the payroll tax loophole for companies who pay the highest salaries.
More – Amber Marusek, Seattle’s Child
WASHINGTON LAWMAKERS CAN ADDRESS REVENUE SHORTFALL WITHOUT CUTTING IMPORTANT SERVICES
Our state continues to grow, but funding for public services has not kept pace. This is largely because the tax code over-relies on sales and property taxes that squeeze people with low and moderate incomes.
The reality is that we’re in this situation in part because too many lawmakers weren’t willing to make bold, forward-thinking decisions about revenue in the past. For too long, the legislature was unwilling to make modest fixes to the tax code that would have ensured the ultra-wealthy and corporations pay their share. Fortunately, in 2021, they took the essential and bold step to pass the capital gains tax, and our whole state has benefited.
More – Lu Hill, Spokesman-Review
LETTER: FIX SCHOOL FUNDING
In November, Washingtonians united across party lines to retain the capital gains tax. Voters support taxing Washington’s super-rich. We want action in Olympia for commonsense solutions to our state’s unfair revenue system. Our current school funding system hits hardest on those who have the least.
This is not just a moral argument; it’s an economic argument: investment in schools now saves us expense later. Children who receive a solid public education are better able to survive and thrive in tomorrow’s economy than those who attend underfunded schools.
More – Mindy Troffer-Cooper, Rochelle Amos, Gregg Brown, Kristie Peak
FERGUSON OUTLINES PLAN TO ADDRESS $15 BILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL
Clare Bellefeuille-Rice is a certified nursing assistant at an Olympia nursing home. She said the state needs to invest more money into long term care, not less.
“We’re already in crisis in long term care,” said Bellefeuille-Rice, who said co-workers burn out in an occupation where they are overworked and underpaid.
“We don’t have enough money to hire adequate staff. We don’t have enough money to run these places and take care of people like they deserve to be taken care of,” said Bellefeuille-Rice.
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