Washington Indivisible Podcast

Stephan, Will, and Shasti talk this week about how progressive taxation seems to be having a moment, both on national stage, with Elizabeth Warren and Pramila Jayapal's Wealth Tax Act, and also here in WA, with a number of progressive bills that have an actual shot in the legislature.

Guest: Rich Smith, writer for The Stranger

Calls to Action:

Working Family Tax Credit HB 1297 is scheduled to get a vote in the House on Sunday, March 7, so call or email your representative in support of it.

Suggest Script:

I'm [NAME] from [CITY]. I support HB 1297, the Working Families Tax Exemption, and urge you to vote 'yea.'

[ADD A SENTENCE OR TWO MORE BASED ON THE POINTS BELOW]

The Working Families Tax Credit/Recovery Rebate provides direct cash assistance to the households that need it most. The Recovery Rebate builds on the success of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and makes Washington state’s version of the EITC, the Working Families Tax Credit, more equitable by: ensuring families with the lowest incomes receive more support by providing an annual cash rebate of $500 to qualifying households, plus $150 each for up to three kids; and including people who file taxes with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), who are unjustly excluded from unemployment insurance and federal stimulus efforts. ITIN filers include undocumented immigrants, certain student visa holders, and survivors of intimate partner violence, among others.

Studies have shown that each dollar returned to low income tax filers generates up to $2.00 in local economic activity, supporting local businesses, since they are most likely to spend the money on groceries, child care, etc.

One of the main reasons people stay with an abusive partner is that they don’t have the money to support themselves or their children. Access to an additional $340 has been shown to help survivors in our state find safety and stability by covering things like car repairs needed to keep a job, or changing the locks so they can safely stay in their own home.

This bill is one of our legislative priorities this session because of the profound impact it would have on survivors’ options for safety and stability.

The Wealth Tax HB 1406 is currently in the House Finance Committee, so the action is to contact the chair, Noel Frame, and let her know you support it. She’s the author, but it helps to know that there’s public support.

And finally, support the Capital Gains tax, SB 5096, by letting your senator know that you want him or her to vote for it when it comes up for a floor vote before March 6th.

Sample Script:

Please vote yes on SB 5096 in the Senate floor vote. I support this bill because it will raise revenue which Washington State needs to provide necessary services. Washington state has the most regressive tax structure in the nation. This excise tax will target the wealthiest taxpayers and make our tax structure more equitable.

Thank you.

[NAME], [CITY], [ZIP]

Did you know that WA insurance companies currently use credit scores as a way to determine how much they charge for your coverage?

Senator Mona Das (LD 47), WA State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, and Governor Inslee's Senior Policy Adviser RaShelle Davis join us to discuss the fight to save a bill that would prevent insurance companies from using people's credit scores to determine rates, a practice that disproportionately impact low-income and BIPOC communities.

Passing HR1, killing the filibuster, and saving democracy, with William Casey (Managing Partner of Left Wing Digital) and Shasti Conrad (Chair of the King County Democrats).

Plus, Rich Smith of The Stranger joins us to talk about the fight to save a bill in the legislature that would prohibit insurance companies in WA from using credit scores to determine rates.

Today, elevating women of color to positions of leadership with a benefit concert featuring Chaka Khan, Andra Day, and a jaw-dropping lineup of local talent, including the amazing Lady A, who joins the show today, along with Lavender Rights Project Executive Director Jaelyn Scott, and also Shasti Conrad, co-founder of the organization making this all happen, the Opportunity Leadership Network.

Today’s show is a sneak preview of the event to come, which is happening this Saturday, February 27th.

Notes:

Info on where and when you can see the concert: https://www.opportunityln.com/i-m-every-woman-opportunity-washing

Opportunity Leadership Network: https://www.opportunityln.com/

Lavender Rights Project: https://www.lavenderrightsproject.org/

Lady A's website: https://www.ladyababyblues.com/

Most progressives agree that the way that we do taxation in Washington State is fundamentally wrong. The burden falls on the people who can least afford it. The good news is, we may finally be taking some steps toward fixing that in this year’s legislative session.

In this town hall, we’re joined by three of the state’s most prominent voices in the fight to make our state’s taxation fairer and more equitable: Misha Werschkul of the Washington State Budget & Policy Center, Treasure Mackley of Invest in Washington Now, and Sharonne Navas of the Equity in Education Coalition and All in For Washington.

They explain why our tax system is the way it is, what can be done to change it--will a focus on current bills that are in play in this year's legislature, and they detail how you can make a difference!

Notes:

Washington State Budget and Policy Center: https://budgetandpolicy.org/

All in for Washington: https://allinforwa.org/

Equity in Education Coalition: https://eec-wa.org/

Invest in Washington Now: https://investwanow.org/

Under the Trump administration, hate, extremism, and white nationalism grew dramatically, but the insurrection at the nation’s Capitol seemed to signal something else.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks the activity of hate groups, just released their annual Year in Hate and Extremism report for 2020, and this one features a three-part study of what’s being called antigovernment extremism.

Our guest is Kate Bitz, a Program Manager and Trainer/Organizer with the Western States Center, which is affiliated with the Southern Poverty Law Center, and is an expert in tracking and countering white supremacy here in the Pacific Northwest.

Read the full report: https://www.splcenter.org/year-hate-and-extremism-2020

It's been one week since the Senate voted to acquit Donald Trump, which has led to a civil war in the GOP, one that has reached our borders here in Washington in the form of Jaime Herrera Beutler and Loren Culp.

We discuss the situation with Shasti Conrad (Chair of King County Democrats) and Will Casey (Left Wing Media).

Senator Patty Murray joins us for a wide-ranging town hall discussion, touching on everything from Trump’s acquittal to the state of the GOP, the COVID rescue package, her essential work in the pandemic recovery as the new chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and her thoughts on the filibuster.

This week, we revisit our January conversation with Indivisible co-founders, Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, discussing their blueprint for the new Democratic trifecta. “Indivisible Guide: A Practical Guide for Fixing Our Democracy,” offers lessons from the past, and whole lot of directives for a new and better future.

This was recorded live on Saturday, January 23rd.

A growing number of sheriffs across the state and the country, have taken it upon themselves to decide which public safety laws they’re going to enforce, and which ones they won’t. Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney is refusing to enforce laws around gun safety and the pandemic.

The Recall Fortney Campaign, being led by my guest Colin McMahon is looking to hold Fortney to account. We talk about the history of the so-called "Constitutional Sheriff," and about what you can do to help in the recall effort.

Links:

Website: http://www.recallfortney.com

Fundraiser: https://recallfortney.nationbuilder.com/constitutional_sheriffs