From Washington's Paramount Duty
Dear Education Advocate,
There is still a lot of work to do in order to fully and amply fund our public schools, as you well know. Right now legislators are about to vote on a budget that will help get us toward that goal, and they need to hear from you before they vote!
The Supreme Court was clear: legislators must add an extra $1 billion for our schools this year, in 2018. Saying 'no' to the Court is not an option.
The State House and State Senate both propose to deliver that funding, thanks in part to your calls and emails! But their remaining budgets still aren't aligned.
Their plans are like two pieces of bread -- one with peanut butter and one with jelly. Legislators should simply put them together and pass a capital gains tax that raises enough revenue to provide the additional $1 billion in funding for our schools ordered by the Supreme Court. If we don't find new, progressive revenue, then we risk seeing the new funding vanish if there's a recession.
The two budgets are going to be voted on by the House and Senate in the next few days! Washington's Paramount Duty is asking you to please email or call call your legislators, and spread the word to others.
1. EMAIL Your State Legislators
Send the below email to your State Senator, your two State Representatives (firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov), as well as important leaders: the State House Speaker, House Majority Leader, House Budget Chair, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Budget Chair. Their emails are provided below.
SUBJECT LINE: $1 Billion Needed in Education Funding; New & Fair Revenue from Capital Gains Now!
BODY OF YOUR EMAIL: The Supreme Court of Washington ruled in November that legislators needed to come up with an extra $1 billion in funding for educator salaries in our public schools. Our students desperately need the teachers, programs, and materials that this funding will make possible.
I am emailing to ask you to support legislation that uses new and progressive revenue, including a capital gains tax, to raise that $1 billion to amply fund all public schools for every child. Thank you for your service to our district and state.
SIGNATURE: Your name, your title and/or affiliation (if applicable), and your address
WA State House and Senate Democratic caucus and budget leads emails:
frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov
pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov
June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov
sharon.nelson@leg.wa.gov
Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov
2. CALL your state legislators
The legislative session is almost over. That means now is the time to call your legislators and ask them to amply fund Washington’s public schools with new progressive revenue from the proposed capital gains tax. You can click this link to call your legislators directly!
http://paramountduty.org/call-your-legislators/
Please call each of your 3 state legislators at their Olympia offices either using their direct line or this toll-free legislative hotline (open during working hours and the service sends an electronic message to legislators): 1-800-562-6000. Here is the message legislators need to hear:
The Supreme Court of Washington ruled in November that legislators needed to come up with an extra $1 billion in funding for our public schools. Our students desperately need the teachers, programs, and materials that this funding will make possible.
I am calling to ask you to support legislation that uses new and progressive revenue, including a capital gains tax, to raise that $1 billion to amply fund all public schools for every child. Thank you for your service to our district and state.
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of Washington's 1.1 million public school students.
Summer Stinson
Board President
Washington's Paramount Duty
There is still a lot of work to do in order to fully and amply fund our public schools, as you well know. Right now legislators are about to vote on a budget that will help get us toward that goal, and they need to hear from you before they vote!
The Supreme Court was clear: legislators must add an extra $1 billion for our schools this year, in 2018. Saying 'no' to the Court is not an option.
The State House and State Senate both propose to deliver that funding, thanks in part to your calls and emails! But their remaining budgets still aren't aligned.
Their plans are like two pieces of bread -- one with peanut butter and one with jelly. Legislators should simply put them together and pass a capital gains tax that raises enough revenue to provide the additional $1 billion in funding for our schools ordered by the Supreme Court. If we don't find new, progressive revenue, then we risk seeing the new funding vanish if there's a recession.
The two budgets are going to be voted on by the House and Senate in the next few days! Washington's Paramount Duty is asking you to please email or call call your legislators, and spread the word to others.
1. EMAIL Your State Legislators
Send the below email to your State Senator, your two State Representatives (firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov), as well as important leaders: the State House Speaker, House Majority Leader, House Budget Chair, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Budget Chair. Their emails are provided below.
SUBJECT LINE: $1 Billion Needed in Education Funding; New & Fair Revenue from Capital Gains Now!
BODY OF YOUR EMAIL: The Supreme Court of Washington ruled in November that legislators needed to come up with an extra $1 billion in funding for educator salaries in our public schools. Our students desperately need the teachers, programs, and materials that this funding will make possible.
I am emailing to ask you to support legislation that uses new and progressive revenue, including a capital gains tax, to raise that $1 billion to amply fund all public schools for every child. Thank you for your service to our district and state.
SIGNATURE: Your name, your title and/or affiliation (if applicable), and your address
WA State House and Senate Democratic caucus and budget leads emails:
frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov
pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov
June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov
sharon.nelson@leg.wa.gov
Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov
2. CALL your state legislators
The legislative session is almost over. That means now is the time to call your legislators and ask them to amply fund Washington’s public schools with new progressive revenue from the proposed capital gains tax. You can click this link to call your legislators directly!
http://paramountduty.org/call-your-legislators/
Please call each of your 3 state legislators at their Olympia offices either using their direct line or this toll-free legislative hotline (open during working hours and the service sends an electronic message to legislators): 1-800-562-6000. Here is the message legislators need to hear:
The Supreme Court of Washington ruled in November that legislators needed to come up with an extra $1 billion in funding for our public schools. Our students desperately need the teachers, programs, and materials that this funding will make possible.
I am calling to ask you to support legislation that uses new and progressive revenue, including a capital gains tax, to raise that $1 billion to amply fund all public schools for every child. Thank you for your service to our district and state.
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of Washington's 1.1 million public school students.
Summer Stinson
Board President
Washington's Paramount Duty
Comments
C'mon, demand they take that vote. What could go wrong?
Alfred
More Taxes
That said, I favor an income tax (gasp!) over a capital gains tax, but I also recognize that's not gonna happen. After that, I still prefer property taxes - local and relatively steady. I do wish there were a cap (10%) on the increases in any one year.
FNH
I appreciate your commitment to polling data conducted by left-leaning organizations and telling people that polling results are the same as elections because polling pre-campaigns is never wrong.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Albert