Policy » State Policy Recommendations

For Washington state the right policy choices include:

• Raising new revenue immediately to avoid cuts to essential services that risk the lives and well-being of state citizens.
• Reforming our state tax structure to be more fair and adequate, so we can fund the educational system our state needs for all to prosper.
• Strengthening our unemployment insurance system to take advantage of federal incentives, cover more people who are unemployed through no fault of their own, and boost benefits for families.
• Maintaining our strong minimum wage law, and considering raising the COLA to reflect economic growth and to come closer to a living wage.
• Expanding and funding our state’s family and medical leave insurance program and enacting new workplace standards for minimum paid sick days.

This agenda will not be easy to accomplish. At best, only incremental progress is likely in the coming year. But if nothing else, the severity of this recession and its aftermath should embolden all who care about our state and nation to begin charting a new course.

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