ACTION ALERT FROM SUMMER STINSON, VP, WASHINGTON’S PARAMOUNT DUTY
Efforts to fully fund our public schools are still being held up in the state legislature. While Senate Republicans finally passed the levy cliff extension yesterday after much pressure from parents, they also proposed a deeply flawed funding plan that doesn’t add up. Democrats haven’t offered their own revenue plans, though Governor Inslee did propose a good and bold plan.
Together we can get things moving again. How? By turning up the pressure on state legislators, starting this weekend with education funding forums and legislative town hall events being held across the state. State legislators from both parties need to hear from us right now.
There are two kinds of events happening that we invite you to attend in your community – education funding forums and town halls.
Education Funding Forums
Washington’s Paramount Duty is joining the Washington Education Association and Class Size Counts to discuss how to amply and equitably fund public schools with state legislators. All students, parents, and public school supporters are invited to attend. These events will be solely focused on education funding, and are a great opportunity to communicate directly with legislators and other community leaders.
State Legislative Town Halls
Several state legislators are also holding their own town hall events, to discuss a wider range of issues. Obviously, they need to hear from you about fully funding education. State legislators’ town halls are an important opportunity to pressure them into helping break the deadlock in Olympia. It is your chance to tell your state legislators what you expect them to do, what you support and what you oppose, and to ask pointed questions about their actions and their ideas.
The best way to approach these town halls is to be firm with state legislators. The most important thing to keep in mind is they work for you. It is your job as a member of the public to tell them what you expect them to do for you. State legislators want you to make their jobs easier, and will try and convince you that things are the way they are and cannot be changed. Don’t accept that. This town hall is your opportunity to make it clear their job is to deliver what you expect them to deliver. In this case: fully funding public education with progressive new revenue.
THREE ADVOCACY ACTION STEPS
Step 1: Look up your state legislative district here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Step 2: Show up to an education funding forum and/or town hall meeting in your legislative district (scroll down for dates).
Step 3: Speak up for fully funding education with progressive new revenue. Below that are some good ideas for what to tell legislators at these events.
TALKING POINTS
If you’re talking to Republican State legislators:
Tell them you expect them to vote for progressive revenues. It is not appropriate to raise property taxes or sales taxes even further to pay for schools when our state’s wealthiest people and largest corporations are enjoying tax loopholes. Close the tax breaks and pass a capital gains tax.
Some responses to what Republican state legislators may say about that:
“Our plan asks property rich districts to pay more.” That is an attack on low-income and working people, who may live in a “property-rich district” but are not actually able to bear the burden of higher property taxes. Our tax system is regressive, and raising property taxes to pay for schools is a regressive solution – especially when we don’t have a capital gains tax and when large corporations have significant tax loopholes.
“A capital gains tax is a state income tax.” This is total nonsense and a naked attempt to protect rich people and make working families pay instead. We reject this completely.
“Voters don’t want new taxes.” Yes, they do, polling shows it. The court ordered it. The constitution demands it. And we insist on it. We’re not asking you, we’re telling you.
If you’re talking to Democratic State legislators:
Tell them you expect Democrats to propose an education funding plan with progressive revenue sources. It should resemble the Governor’s plan, one that includes items such as a capital gains tax and closing corporate tax breaks – and Democrats must vote for it. It is not appropriate to raise property taxes or sales taxes even further to pay for schools when our state’s wealthiest people and largest corporations are enjoying tax loopholes. Close the tax breaks and pass a capital gains tax.
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Find your State Education Funding Forum and State Legislative District Town Hall below.
STATE EDUCATION FUNDING FORUMS
(Note that most of these events combine several state legislative districts. If you don’t see your district listed, scroll down to see if there is a state legislative town hall.)
Legislative Districts: 1, 21, 38, 39, 44
Date: Thursday, March 9
Time: 4:30 Pre-function, 5:30-7 pm
Location: Glacier Peak High School
7401 144th Pl SE, Snohomish, WA 98296
https://www.facebook.com/events/600847406790014/
Legislative Districts: 1 & 45
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 9:30-11:30 am
Location: Northcreek High School
3613 191st Pl SE, Bothell, WA 98012
https://www.facebook.com/events/1112685992191598/
Legislative Districts: 17, 18 & 49
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Roosevelt Elementary
2921 Falk Road, Vancouver, WA 98661
https://www.facebook.com/events/100729077121084/
Legislative Districts: 30 & 31
Date: Monday, March 20
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm
Location: Auburn Performing Arts Center
702 4th St NE, Auburn, WA 98002
https://www.facebook.com/events/373480756366301/
Legislative District: 12
Date: Monday, March 10
Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
Location: Wenatchee High School
1101 Millerdale Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801
https://www.facebook.com/events/419142121767693/
Legislative Districts: 21 & 32
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 9:30-11:30 am
Location: Shoreline Center
18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
https://edfundingforum.eventbrite.com
Legislative Districts: 14 & 15
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: East Valley Elementary
1951 Beaudry Road, Yakima
https://www.facebook.com/events/1339330479461156/
Legislative Districts: 19, 20, 22
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Centralia College
600 Centralia College Blvd, Centralia, WA 98531
https://www.facebook.com/events/256797428107068/
Legislative Districts: 41 & 48
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Tyee Middle School
13630 SE Allen Rd, Bellevue, WA 98006
https://www.facebook.com/events/416104822058567/
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STATE LEGISLATIVE TOWN HALLS
(These are happening over the next two weekends.)
Legislative District: 1
Date: Sunday, March 12
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Location: Cascadia College (Mobius Hall)
18345 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA
Legislative District: 3
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Location: WA Cracker Building
304 W. Pacific, Spokane, WA
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Legislative District: 5
(Note: There are 3 Town Halls on the same day for LD 5)
1) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: Maple Valley Community Center
22010 SE 248th Street, Maple Valley, WA
2) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Issaquah Police Station (Eagle Room 130)
E. Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA
3) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: Mt. Si Senior Center
411 Main Ave. S, North Bend, WA
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Legislative District: 8
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: ARC of TriCities
1455 Fowler Street, Richland, WA
Legislative District: 21
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: Meadowdale High School (Great Hall)
6002 168th Street SW, Lynnwood, WA
Legislative District: 22
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: South Puget Sound Community College (Lacey Campus)Building 1, Room 194420
6th Avenue SE, Lacey, WA
Legislative District: 23
(Note: There are 2 Town Halls on the same day for LD 23)
1) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location: Eagle’s Nest
1195 Fairgrounds Rd NW, Bremerton, WA
https://www.facebook.com/events/1250492961664492/
2) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: Council Chambers
280 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island, WA
https://www.facebook.com/events/1824881487762147/
Legislative District: 25
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: Franklin Pierce Early Learning Center
12223 A Street S, Tacoma, WA
https://www.facebook.com/events/1835495810043380/
Legislative District: 26
(Note: There are 2 Town Halls on the same day for LD 26)
1) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10 am – 11:30 am
Location: Chamber of Commerce
3125 Judson St., Gig Harbor, WA
2) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: Chamber of Commerce
1014 Bay Street, Port Orchard, WA
Legislative District: 27
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Evergreen State College (Tacoma Campus)
1210 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA
https://www.facebook.com/events/1886613031595696/
Legislative District: 28
Date: Sunday, March 12
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Location: Steilacoom Town Hall
1717 Lafayette Street, Steilacoom, WA
Legislative District: 29
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Bates Technical College
2201 S 78th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409
Legislative District: 30
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: FW Senior Center
4016 S. 352nd Street, Auburn, WA
Legislative District: 33
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Kent City Hall
400 W. Gowe Street, Kent, WA
Legislative District: 36
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Leif Erikson Lodge
2245 NW 57th St, Seattle, WA 98107
https://www.facebook.com/events/168951570278626/
Legislative District: 37
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Ave S., Seattle, WA
https://www.facebook.com/events/163868880793136/
Legislative District: 41
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Somerset Elementary (Gym)
14100 Somerset Boulevard SE, Bellevue, WA
Legislative District: 43
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: Seattle First Baptist Church
1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA
https://www.facebook.com/events/1759628837687653/
Legislative District: 44
(Note: There are 2 Town Halls on the same day for LD 44)
1) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Location: Lake Stevens Fire Dist. Conference Center
10518 18th St. SE, Lake Stevens, WA
2) Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Location: Mill Creek City Hall (S. Council Chambers)
15728 Main Street, Mill Creek, WA
Legislative District: 45
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Lake Washington Institute of Technology
West Building, Room 305A
11605 132nd Ave., Kirkland, WA
Legislative District: 47
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Golden Steer Restaurant
23826 104th Avenue SE, Kent, WA
Legislative District: 48
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Redmond City Hall, Council Chambers
15670 NE 85th Street, Redmond, WA
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THANK YOU for speaking up for a fully funded public education!
Yours in advocacy,
Summer Stinson
Board Vice President
Washington’s Paramount Duty