Julian Medrano, Director of Public Policy at Interfaith Worker Justice says: It has been 10 years since Congress raised the minimum wage. That’s the longest period in history – since it was implemented in 1938 – without an increase. Millions of Americans across the country are still struggling to … [Read more...]
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN The Untold Stories of Jail Deaths in Washington
Columbia Legal Services, May 2019 A punitive andinequitable model that holds people who have not been convicted of any crime simplybecause they cannot afford bail; a model that condemns people fighting mental illnessand cognitive disabilities to serve days, weeks, or months for behaviors … [Read more...]
Historic Congressional Session Debates Reparations
"It is tempting to divorce this modern campaign of terror, of plunder, from enslavement, but the logic of enslavement, of white supremacy respects no such borders. And the god of bondage was lustful and begat many heirs: coup d'etats and convict leasing, vagrancy laws and debt peonage, redlining and … [Read more...]
Join Community Alliance for Global Justice for the 13th annual Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere (SLEE) Dinner, July 13, 2019, Seattle
What: Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere (SLEE) Dinner When: Saturday, July 13, 5:00 – 9:30 pm Where: St Demetrios Church, 2100 Boyer Ave E, Seattle, WA Keynote: Doria Robinson, Executive Director of Urban Tilth, "For the Love of Soil: Dismantling the Extractive Economy … [Read more...]
Don’t Let Federal Government Lower the Poverty Line-Submit a Comment by June 21, 2019
The Trump Administration is seeking to lower the federal poverty line, affecting millions of people who use services like SNAP, WIC, Medicare/Medicaid, and school lunch programs. At a time when we need to increase access to these life-saving programs, it is morally reprehensible to further limit … [Read more...]
Join UUs attending the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) Moral Action Congress, June 17-19, Washington DC
Please join UUs attending the Poor People's Campaign (PPC) Moral Action Congress on June 17 - 19, in Washington D.C. Ohio is sending a delegation. Is your state? Join us to fight the distorted moral narrative, systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and ecological devastation More on UU … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for Census 2020
Faith Action Network has posters available from our partners at Washington Nonprofits for you to post in your faith communities. We want to make sure everyone is counted so that critical funding and elected representation is accurately reflected across our state. We’ll have posters available at our … [Read more...]
Reforming Debtors Prison in Washington State makes sense (and dollars!)
On a given day in Washington State, up to 50% of the people in county jail are there because they are poor. Cash bail enforces a guilty until proven innocent structure on the poor. It does not have to be this way. According to 2019 studies by the Washington State Auditor, bail alternative … [Read more...]
Legislators of Color Help Provide Environmental Justice to Communities Most Impacted by Energy Laws
Dear supporters, friends and allies, At the beginning of legislative session we saw an unprecedented number of legislators of color taking office in the Washington State Legislature. Meanwhile our Statewide Environmental Justice Summit created a groundswell of interest and energy from communities … [Read more...]
Post Photos of Abortion Ban Rally Protests to UUA FB Today
The UUA is going to put up a Facebook post about the rallies today and ask people who are at them or went to them to post a photo in the comments section from their rallies saying where they are. So please watch for that post and then post your photo and ask others in your network to do so. More … [Read more...]
2019 Preliminary Summary of Legislation Passed by the Washington State Legislature
Pretty impressive document. Issued by the Office of Program Research Washington House of Representatives and published on April 29, 2019. Read more here . . . … [Read more...]
Accomplishments of the 2019 Legislative Session
The 2019 Legislative Session is officially over. First, we’d like to recognize the hard work of all of you—our advocacy community. This legislative session was an important one, and because of your action, a number of critical policies (plus an entire 2 year operating budget!) are now a reality. … [Read more...]
Hone Your Justice Skills at GA, June 19-22, Spokane WA
You can register here. THURSDAY, JUNE 20 10 am-12 pm - Effective and Relational Justice Work in UU Spaces Offered by UUs for Social Justice in the Middle East Social justice work is central to Unitarian Universalist identity and is often controversial. UU activists must be effective in … [Read more...]
REET: The Real Estate Excise Tax made less regressive
Amendments to the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) were passed by the legislature on April 28. The bill, SB 5998, was focused on amendments to the REET, which is levied on sale of a home. It raises $243.5 million over two years, while creating a small tax cut for some home sellers. The bill changes the … [Read more...]
Help Protect the Lives of Working People- On Workers’ memorial Day (April 28)Tell OSHA to Hire More Inspectors
Join Interfaith Worker Justice to tell OSHA to hire more inspectors. Add your name to help us protect the lives of working people. For almost fifty years now, we have come together on April 28th for Workers' Memorial Day to demand real action to prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths in the … [Read more...]
Urge Lawmakers to Fund Working Families Tax Credit
We are working alongside community members and partner organizations to ensure that lawmakers fund and modernize the Working Families Tax Credit. We’re holding a phone bank on Thursday, April 18, to urge passage and we need volunteers! The phone bank will be at Poverty Action’s office in … [Read more...]
Here’s What Your Advocacy Has Accomplished
A collection of progressive bills, most of which will primarily impact low-income communities and communities of color in Washington state, were voted on and passed by state legislators. These bills—some of which Poverty Action has been working alongside community members and partner … [Read more...]
These Budgets Are No Joke-Summary of Senate Budget Proposal
Washington state’s Senate released its two year operating budget proposal last Friday, March 29, just a few days after the House’s operating budget proposal. Senate budget writers have taken critical steps in the right direction with their investments and budget priorities. The 2019-2021 Senate … [Read more...]
Senate Budget Addresses Poverty and Tax Issues
Washington state’s Senate released its two year operating budget proposal last Friday, March 29, just a few days after the House’s operating budget proposal.S enate budget writers have taken critical steps in the right direction with their investments and budget priorities.The 2019-2021 Senate … [Read more...]
WA State House Tackles Fixing Economic Inequality: A Strong Start That Needs Deeper Investments
Washington state’s House of Representatives released its two year operating budget proposal on Monday, March 25. We applaud the House for taking critical steps to ensure our tax code is balanced and the wealthiest people and corporations pay their fare share. The House also made a number of critical … [Read more...]