Faith Action Network calls for new revenue and tax fairness

The State Senate’s Budget: Cutting the Lifeline

The State Senate unveiled its $33.2 billion two-year operating budget today, sweeping $180 million out of the Disability Lifeline cash grant and moving it to Housing and Essential Needs (HEN). There was also the expected shift of $1 billion in new money into basic education, higher ed and early learning.

The Senate plan assumes $1.2 billion in savings from various cuts in human services, and makes ends meet without raising any taxes or shrinking any tax breaks.

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Faith Action Network’s statewide interfaith communities implore lawmakers to raise new revenue now and draw a circle of protection around Washington’s families in need.

“We call for a review of Washington’s tax code,” says Rabbi Daniel Weiner of Temple De Hirsch Sinai, “to consider increasing equality for low and moderate income families who are paying a disproportionately high percentage of their incomes on taxes, yet are slated to lose critical state supports for their basic needs.”

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