Every Washingtonian, no matter their background or where they come from, believes that our economy, our community, and our state is strongest when all of our neighbors are healthy and stable and have the necessities to thrive. But for the vast majority of Washingtonians, the twin public health and economic crises caused by coronavirus have been destabilizing. The pandemic and ensuing crash only ex
acerbated the preexisting symptoms of decades of trickle-down economic policies that already left millions of people in the margins - specifically Black, brown, and Indigenous workers, families, and small business owners. The Washington Recovery Agenda will put us back on the road to economic growth and create an economy that’s stronger and healthier than it was before. Through new progressive taxes on the state’s wealthiest citizens and most profitable corporations, we can come together to invest at least $2.5 billion this biennium in:
1. Increasing direct cash assistance and raising wages to keep people spending in their communities and save jobs, and extending unemployment assistance and other supports to immigrant workers not covered by traditional employment benefits;
2. Saving small businesses through direct cash assistance, loans, and other supports;
3. Increasing investments in affordable housing, childcare and early education, healthcare, and higher education while reducing costs for families; and
4. Preserving and expanding access to basic needs like food security, health care, and COVID testing, so workers and families have the necessities to survive the pandemic. Additional investments in infrastructure and the maintenance and creation of good-paying jobs through capital and transportation projects must also be a crucial part of restoring our economy to pre-pandemic levels.
