May 17, 2010

EEA Members—

I have some exciting news to share!  One of our own, EEA member Vince DeMiero, is running for the state legislature in the 1st District.  Vince has been a long-time English, Journalism, and Photography teacher at Mountlake Terrace High School.  Having worked closely with Vince on many committees during my time at MTHS, I can say first-hand what an exceptional leader and thinker he is.  I think that Vince is what we have been waiting for-- a practicing teacher who is willing to stand up and be a champion for education in the legislature!  For more information or to help his campaign, check out his website at www.vincedemiero.com .

At the WEA Representative Assembly this past week, the delegates voted overwhelmingly for WEA to endorse I-1098.  I-1098 is a tax reform measure intended to make our tax code in Washington State more equitable.  It would institute a “high incomes” tax on single people making more than $200,000 and couples earning more than $400,000 a year while cutting taxes on middle class families.  I-1098 cuts the State’s portion of property taxes by 20% and eliminates the B&O tax for 133,000 businesses.  Bill Gates, Sr., one of the backers of the initiative, spoke to delegates at RA, and his statistics were shocking.  Because of our extremely regressive tax structure, poor families pay 17% of their income in taxes and middle-class families pay 11%; however, our State’s wealthiest residents pay only 2.6% of their income in state and local taxes.   What was most fascinating, however, was that this “high incomes” tax would only increase taxes for the wealthiest 3% of our State’s citizens, but it would raise $1 billion in annual revenue.  70% of this revenue would be dedicated to the Education Legacy Trust Fund, and 30% would be dedicated to health care.  The initiative writers are aware of opposing arguments, so I-1098 would require regular audits and reporting of how the revenue is used, and it would require a vote of the people to change the tax rates or income levels.  If you would like more information about the initiative, here is a piece from the Economic Opportunity Institute.  Please watch for opportunities to sign the petition or to collect signatures for the campaign. 

On another political front, with the change in the levy law this legislative session we are able to collect another 4% on our levy, which amounts to about $8 million for Edmonds next year.  Citizens for Schools is planning to run a supplemental levy on August 17th.  A summer levy is a new thing for us, but I am going to be asking folks to take shifts at the phone bank or help out in other ways.  The $8 million has the potential to make a huge difference in our classrooms and in our bargain, so please consider volunteering some of your time to the levy campaign this summer. 

As you can see, we’re going to be very busy on all political fronts over the next few months.  However, all these areas have the potential to make big differences in our classrooms for our students and for ourselves.  Please join me in getting involved in one or all of these campaigns!

Andi