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“Because we have no corporate profits tax or income tax, all that wealth largely skates free of taxation. This hamstrings a city’s ability to respond to the growth.”
“Our tax code has kept in place racist and classist systems that disproportionately harm Indigenous, Black and People of Color communities.”
“Washington’s tax structure has been unfair for too long. This is a step in the right direction.”
“Some of these individuals, like [WA residents] Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, have been worth $100 billion for some time: Gates first reached the mark in 1999, while Bezos did it in 2017. But most of the others are newcomers to the 12-digit club.”
“I don’t think a single stock holder will have to set up GoFundMe if this passes.”
“Families shouldn’t have to depend on philanthropy to survive. We must step up as a community and we must do this through public policy.”
“I don’t say recovery, I say economic transformation, What we had before wasn’t serving most of us.”
“The simple, obvious solution is to just barely fix how out of whack our tax system is by charging the people on the very, very top a little bit more.”
“Do people think that our small businesses need help in this economic situation that we’re in? Do people think that we want to prevent mass evictions, once the eviction moratorium goes away?”
“What sort of system would further punish everyday people when there are people and corporations who have made record profits and have not yet paid their fair share?”
“One organization, Invest in WA Now, launched a video ad this week which will run in the legislative districts of key budget negotiators.”
“They drew down their bank accounts buying ingredients for meat sauce, which they planned to freeze, and stews.”
“Governors and state lawmakers across the country are racing to authorize millions of dollars in new coronavirus stimulus aid, aiming to plug gaping holes in their local economies.”
“These are small business owners that have put their whole entire lives into this community and now they are coming to us for food,”
“Economic stimulus is the most unsung tool for beating this virus. Want people and businesses to do the right thing on virus control? Then make it so they aren’t also fighting for their economic lives.”
“For Washington’s and the nation’s economy to reopen after the COVID-19 threat subsides, millions of families will need safe, affordable child care. Let’s make sure it will be there for all with robust public investment.”
“We have an economy primed with talented people who are being held back by the forces of discrimination. And by unleashing them, we can absolutely set things right again.”
“The bigger issue are all the policies that lead …to greater inequality of wealth and lower growth in the economy through very inefficient investment.”
“At least eight other states — including California, Massachusetts and New York — have considered proposals to increase taxes on high-income residents, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.”
“A modest tax on extraordinary profits to pay for childcare and education is broadly supported by the public, as evidenced both by recent public opinion polling and by the tens of thousands of individuals who sent emails and letters to elected leaders, testified in support of the policy, and spoke out in support over the last decade.”
“It isn’t just [tax] loopholes, it’s also how we structure our taxes,” Jayapal said. “The fact that we don’t tax wealth is a big problem.”
“I’m thankful that this act will help my children, who have now made me a grandma, afford child care and not struggle like I did between paying rent and childcare or putting groceries on the table. Child care, preschool and other education is funded in this act by the capital gains tax that was passed in the legislature last year.”
“The poorest fifth of Washington state residents pay, on average, 16.8% of their incomes in state and local taxes while the richest 1% of Washingtonians pay an average of just 2.4 %.”
“We’re not even asking [the wealthy] to pay what we are paying, what regular working families are paying,”
“A tax on capital-gains profits would actually create jobs, attract investment and provide needed new revenue.”
“When people are empowered and giving back the cash in their hands, in their pockets so that they can take care of their needs, that is how we recover,”
“Washington State had the fifth highest business closure rate in the U.S. from March 1st to September 15th”
“I’m not an economist, but I am a member of the top 3% and I recognize there’s an enormous problem with this system. It’s not equitable and it’s costing all of us.”
“A one percent tax on wealth over a billion dollars could raise $4.4 billion. That wouldn’t hurt Jeff Bezos or the others in his class.”
“When states cut funding for schools, health care, or other services, it typically results in layoffs, which reduce economic activity and can deepen and prolong a recession.”
“We’re looking, come January 1, at a massive crisis in Washington State.” – Michele Thomas, WA Low Income Housing Alliance
“I think we need to raise revenue through progressive taxation on the people in our state who are getting away without paying their fair share.”
“Most Americans accept the common-sense case for progressive taxation: Those who have more ought to contribute more to the society that is the foundation of their prosperity.”
“Coronavirus left our most vulnerable neighbors on the brink of disaster. A small investment in the hardest-hit communities can improve outcomes for everyone.”
“Biden and Buffett agree that the wealthiest people in America should pay higher taxes.”
“Washington’s surge in claims, which rose to the highest level since the week ending Aug. 1, comes amid signs that the state’s economic recovery may be slowing.”
“This initiative would have given the wealthiest 0.2% of Washingtonians an unnecessary tax cut and it’s clear the efforts to get this going were no match for the broad-based coalition working to make Washington’s tax code more equitable.”
“I’ve studied how wealth and income inequality has exploded over the last two decades and accelerated during the pandemic,” he said. “Today we find ourselves at a level of inequity that we haven’t seen since the Gilded Age. You have the opportunity and the power to make meaningful updates to our tax code to make it more equitable.”
“We have extraordinary wealth in many of our communities, yet those with the greatest ability to contribute pay far less toward public education and other programs than do our working families. The recently-passed capital gains tax is a good first step toward making this right, but we have a long way to go.”
“I will not move out of state as a result of the Legislature doing its job to rebalance our upside-down tax code, and neither will anyone I know. “
“Being heavily reliant on sales tax, our state routinely is ranked as having the nation’s most regressive tax policy, with low-income households paying a larger share of taxes than in other states.”
“Sure revenue looks good, but on the backs of whom?”
“It’s time to fix our broken tax system and create a roadmap for the future, one where families can recover together and thrive.”
“There are workers involved and that particularly there’s an opportunity to create family-wage jobs — which has been a real game changer in this industry.”
“The capital gains tax, as proposed, would apply to an estimated 2 percent of the state’s residents, and could begin to provide better equity as well as more revenue for the state’s general fund.”
“By supporting our people now, we can ensure a steady supply of the true driver of economic growth — consumer spending, which creates jobs and sustains business.”
“The numbers of those behind on rent and utilities were especially high for families with children, with 21 percent falling behind on rent, and among families of color.”
“Unguryan believes lawmakers should look elsewhere for revenue, including fixing the state’s regressive tax system.”
“What I want to support is a capital gains tax only on our wealthiest,” says Senator-elect T’wina Nobles.
“High earners and entrepreneurs have family and community ties that keep them from moving away.”
We are a movement of educators, working families, and everyday Washingtonians advocating for progressive revenue solutions. We believe that the best way to support families and businesses during the COVID- 19 crisis is to keep money flowing to our communities, invest in people, and ask the wealthy few and profitable corporations to do their part. Together, we can build a Washington that works for all of us.
Invest In Washington Now
603 Stewart St Ste 819 Seattle, WA 98101
info(at)investwanow.org InvestWaNow.org
