Froma Harrop’s Sunday column in the Seattle P-I is a breath of fresh air. The simple fact that Social Security is solvent through 2041 is lost on many who would rather ring false alarm bells to drum up support for privatization schemes – but not Harrop, who writes: If politicians want to agonize over retiree [...]
More schools making full-day kindergarten happen
March 27, 2008 By 3 Comments
This fall, the Washington Legislature compromised on a supplemental state budget that begins catching up to the needs of teachers and children in Washington State. The budget continues a 10-year phase-in of full-day kindergarten, while giving teachers half a percent salary increase (on top of their annual cost-of-living-adjustment) to make up for pay increases suspended [...]
Minimum wage drumbeat growing louder
March 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment
While Washington State’s workers enjoy a strong minimum wage indexed to inflation, working families in other states aren’t so lucky. But there are many movements are afoot to change that. In Texas (at Baylor University), supporters say: “As Christians, we must do better than simply meeting the “minimum” requirements established by the federal government.” In [...]
Fairer taxes for Washington State
March 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
With the underlying framework of Washington’s tax system essentially unchanged since the 1930′s, it’s not a surprise that our state’s tax base is shrinking relative to the state’s economy. The state’s General Fund relies on three major sources of revenue: sales, business (B&O), and property taxes. These taxes concentrate on parts of the economy that [...]
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