King County Democrats 2015 Legislative Agenda Status Update

ByRoger Crew
  1. Revenue & Tax Reform:
    • Pass a capital gains tax on the wealthy to raise additional revenue to fund Basic Education and meet McCleary obligations (Budget—No bill #)
    • Close corporate tax exemptions that lack accountable performance objectives and results in terms of living-wage jobs and other measurable community benefits
    • Require the Legislature to adopt a Tax Expenditure Budget as part of the state biennial budget appropriations process (HB1249/SB5492)
  2. Transportation:
    • Authorize sustainable local, regional and state funding for transit (HB1180, etc.) (Done)
    • Move people and freight safely and efficiently while minimizing carbon pollution (SB5087) (Part done—move to Environment)
  3. Election Reform:
    • Send a resolution to Congress calling for a constitutional amendment that corporations are not people and money is not speech (Senate Joint Memorial 8002) (Replaced by I-735)
    • Require campaign disclosure of “dark money” spending by nonprofits (SB5153)
  4. Education:
    • Fully fund K-12 Basic Education consistent with the McCleary order (Budget)
    • Restore 70% state share of higher ed funding (2002) vs. students’ share 30%
    • Support school construction in the state capital budget (Budget)
    • Support funding for two free years of college or technical school (Budget)
  5. Environment:
    • Pass a carbon pollution cap and trade system to make polluters pay (HB 1314/SB5083)
    • Pass the Oil Transportation Safety Act (HB 1449/SB5087)
  6. Labor:
    • Pass a capital budget focused on repairing infrastructure to create jobs (Budget) (Done)
    • Raise the minimum wage statewide towards a goal of a living wage (HB 1355/SB5285)
    • Provide paid sick leave for workers statewide (HB1356)
    • Pass wage theft bills (HB1354/SB5569) (Also SB 5566, 5567, 5568, 5569)
  7. Housing and Human Services:
    • Maintain Increase the social safety net: Homeless, hungry, sick children can’t learn. (Budget, HB1295/SB5437, etc.)
    • Fund Increase low-income housing in the capital budget, at least $100 million recommended (Capital budget)
    • Create a Medicaid Supportive Housing Services benefit (Done)
  8. Criminal Justice:
    • Pass sentencing reform and juvenile justice reform (HB1481/SB5564) (HB1553)
    • Pass a workable medical cannabis regulation that respects the needs of patients.(SB5572)
    • Repeal the death penalty (HB1739/SB5639)
  9. Reproductive Rights:
    • Pass the Reproductive Health Act
    • Oppose parental notification requirements for reproductive health services (SB5289)

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