A Three-Pronged Approach to an Equitable and Inclusive Recovery
As we begin to grapple with the economic and long-term health effects of the Covid-19 pandemic at the same time that we are dealing with a housing and homelessness crisis, we recognize this is a moment to enact bold measures for an equitable and inclusive recovery. We have learned from the 2008 recession that an austerity only approach can have lasting impacts, dragging out our recovery. Meanwhile, Washington state has an upside-down tax system where our lowest-income working families are paying a tax rate up to seven times more than our wealthiest families.
Now is the time to implement progressive and equitable revenue options in order to reduce income inequality and eliminate racial wealth and health gaps. We believe that a three-pronged approach includes:
- Enacting Progressive Revenue
- Equitable Allocation of Resources
- Divest/invest Strategies
Our platform highlights various strategies that have been proposed and how they fit into this approach. It includes the JumpStart Seattle payroll tax, various proposals by Rep. Frank Chopp to implement a capital gains tax, a social insurance model for early learning, and a proposal asking large corporations to pay their fair share to fund behavioral health and mental illness treatment.
We support approaches that seek to right-side our upside-down tax system in Washington state and use those funds to support our most vulnerable communities. We will be advocating for a number of critical strategies to promote a comprehensive approach for our equitable and inclusive recovery and future.
