Helping low-wage working families

By LISA BROWN
GUEST COLUMNIST

Washington has the most regressive tax system in the nation, where someone who earns $20,000 a year pays four times more taxes than a person who earns $200,000 a year, proportionate to their income

We also live in the only developed country that doesn't provide paid leave to the parents of new babies or newly adopted children or offer early learning and preschool programs that prepare all children for success in school.

Until we change this, it's hard to claim that we're committed to tax fairness, family values or equal opportunity. Instead, rising prices, stagnant wages and our state tax system make it harder with every passing year for low-wage working parents to raise successful children and make ends meet.

That's why a coalition of citizens and legislators are pushing hard to create a trifecta of progressive policies:

An annual sales tax rebate based on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families.

Paid family leave.

Early learning and all-day kindergarten.

A working families tax rebate is the single-most effective way to counter the regressive nature of our tax system. By refunding some of the state sales tax to low-wage working people, we can lighten the unfair tax burden and put cash back in the pockets of people who need it most.

A paid family leave benefit for parents of newborns or newly adopted children will provide the critical time for the bonding between parents and children that has been shown to be vital for every child's healthy development.

And expanding our state's early learning and kindergarten programs will ensure that every child starts school ready to learn and succeed.

None of these policies will be instantly created. It takes time, patience and persistence to bring such changes to life.

Advocates for expanded early learning worked for many years before the creation of our state's Department of Early Learning and major state investments in early learning programs and all-day kindergarten. We've just now begun to make the improvements children need.

The same patience and persistence will be required for the working families tax rebate and for family leave.

This year, lawmakers set up the system for the working families tax rebate, which Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law. Next year, when we write a new, two-year state budget, we can decide when and how much the state can afford to return to low-wage workers.

We're also making progress on how to finance paid family leave. The framework for this program has been established in law. Next year's budget-writing session will be the appropriate time to take the next step and agree on a funding source.

Some may say that these three policies are too visionary, too ambitious and too expensive. They cite the slow pace in implementing them as proof of their impracticality.

Changing the direction of state policy to narrow the gap between rich and poor won't be achieved overnight. These three initiatives require a longer attention span. They call us to an enduring commitment, not a quick sound bite.

The arguments for equity and opportunity are irrefutable. Helping low-wage working families is rising to the top of the agenda for all those who want to see Washington's communities and our economy thrive in the 21st century.

Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, represents the 3rd Legislative District and is the majority leader of the Senate.

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