In late 2023, our union brought together member leaders across jurisdictions to form a member policy workgroup to discuss policy issues facing PROTEC17 members, to make political endorsement recommendations, and to support the advancement of our strategic planning priorities. Since then, this member-powered group has convened regularly to collaborate, and has been crucial in ensuring our policies are member-driven and address the needs and concerns of our community.
As we gear up for the 2024 election cycle, the workgroup has already made endorsement recommendations on two statewide ballot initiatives, as well as one local measure. For the statewide ballot initiatives, the committee has recommended ‘NO’ VOTES on two harmful initiatives appearing on the ballot this November – I-2109 and 2117.
Initiative 2109 would repeal the capital gains excise tax imposed on long-term capital assets by individuals with capital gains over $250,000. Originally passed by the legislature in 2021, and upheld by the Washington State Supreme Court in 2023, the Washington State Capital Gains tax supports our state’s early learning and educational investments.
Initiative 2117 would repeal provisions of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. By taxing the state’s largest polluters, the CCA has created $1.8 billion in state revenue which has been reinvested across the state in numerous sectors. Repealing the CCA would gut our state’s budget resulting in catastrophic consequences for public sector workers and the communities we serve.
In Seattle, the workgroup has recommended a ‘YES’ VOTE on ballot initiative 137. This measure would impose a 5% marginal tax on employers who purchase the labor of highly compensated workers above $1 million. The money from this tax would then be used to construct and acquire buildings for social housing, fund operations and maintenance of buildings, and staff up the Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD).Thank you to everyone who signed the petition to get I-137 on the ballot this November.
You can expect our full list of candidate and initiative endorsements to be announced on the website later this summer and in the fall issue of Insight. If you would like to serve get involved in any political action, please feel to contact our Political Director, Brandon Hersey at brandon@ protec17.org.