Cutting Corporate Tax Loopholes: Washington Coalition Stands Up Against Budget Cuts

by Taylor Leake · 2011-01-20 17:16:00 UTC
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State budgets are serious business, especially in such difficult economic times. They can determine which programs get funded and which don't (with far reaching consequences like how much food a soup kitchen might have to give out), how many police, fire fighters, teachers and others the state can hire, and how much they can get paid as many underfunded states are turning to furloughs for state employees to close budget gaps. Just look to California, and you'll see how much trouble a state budget can get into, and the drastic measures needed to get it out.

Washington state has had their share of state budget troubles. Over the past 3 years they've had to cut $5 billion from education and health care alone. But a growing group of activists and organizations (including SEIU Healthcare 775NW, SEIU Local 925, members of AARP, the Community Health Network, the Statewide Poverty Action Network and the Our Economic Future Coalition) are taking a stand and demanding that the state government do away with corporate tax loopholes and business subsidies before they cut another cent from education and health care.

They used the first day of the new legislative session to deliver 28,000 petitions supporting their cause to Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp. "It doesn't make sense to eliminate the voter-approved Basic Health Plan when we are still providing subsidies to Wall Street Banks," said Jim Dawson, spokesperson for the Our Economic Future Coalition.

The group found an ally in State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown who said upon receiving the petitions, "we can't have an above average state if we have a below average - and an unfair - tax structure." She called for, "not just a balanced budget, but a human and compassionate budget."

We couldn't agree more. That's why we've started a petition to add our voices to the 28,000 Washingtonians who have already made it clear they don't want people to suffer so the rich can keep getting richer. Please help out by signing the petition to State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, thanking her for her support and urging her not to cut services from the budget until corporate tax loopholes have been eliminated.

Photo Credit: seiuhealthcare775nw

Taylor Leake has advocated for workers' rights for years, from running his college chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops to working for the Wake Up Walmart campaign.

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