Did you know? Letters to the editor are still one of the most read parts of newspapers.
Why now: Now is the time to make sure all Washingtonians know what’s at stake if I-2109 passes this fall. I-2109 will cut billions in crucial childcare and education funding, eliminate jobs, drain our economy, and increase tax pressure on workers and small businesses.
TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR LETTER PUBLISHED
- Keep your letter to 100-200 words.
- If possible, include a reference to a recent article or commentary that’s connected to the issue of caregiving, long term care, the costs of care, or the ballot initiative itself. Reach out to beth@investwanow.org if you need help with this – we’re happy to help.
- Explain your connection to the topic. Why do you care about childcare or early education? Share a personal experience or anecdote.
- Include a call to action. Tell people to “Vote NO,” visit a website to learn more, or tell their friends about the dangers of I-2109.
KEY MESSAGES
I-2109 CUTS BILLIONS FROM CRITICAL CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION FUNDING
- Washington is in a childcare crisis, without enough affordable and accessible childcare for working parents. I-2109 will make this crisis worse. It will take away much-needed funding to expand childcare, and harm working parents, especially women, who cannot get back into the workforce without access to affordable childcare.
- Nearly $900 million was raised by the capital gains tax – on fewer than 4,000 households – in just the first year. According to fiscal projections, I-2109 will cut more than $2.2 billion from childcare and education over the next 5 years.
- Money from the capital gains tax goes toward the state’s Education Legacy Trust Account (ELTA), which funds affordable childcare and early education expansion, special education for students with disabilities, technical and community colleges, and crumbling school repairs and replacements.
- The Children’s Alliance, Save The Children Action Fund, MomsRising, and many more oppose I-2109 because it will cut more than $2.2 billion over 5 years from education, worsening Washington’s childcare and school funding crisis from Seattle to Wenatchee.
I-2109 HURTS TAXPAYERS & SMALL BUSINESSES
- I-2109 puts more tax pressure on the rest of us. This initiative benefits just a few people – less than 4,000 – who make millions in profits off of stock sales. Giving mega-millionaires, and billionaires, a tax cut will shift more tax pressure on the rest of us.
- Lack of childcare costs Washington’s businesses $2 billion each year as working parents struggle to find accessible, dependable care for these children. I-2109 would worsen this crisis.
- I-2109 shifts tax pressure to middle- and low-income families, who already pay the biggest share – up to 17% of their incomes – in taxes. It repeals a progressive tax, one that makes sure the wealthiest pay what they owe our communities. It will make Washington’s tax system even more regressive, setting WA back to being the very worst in the country when it comes to tax fairness.
