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The Week in Housing Advocacy - Week 14

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Michele Thomas, Director of Policy & Advocacy

One More Week...

This is the last week of the regular 2015 state legislative session, and the House and Senate remain divided on critical components of the operating, capital, and transportation budgets. The main issue continues to be revenue. The question before lawmakers is whether they will get our state off the path of budget deficits and safety net cuts and onto a sustainable path with the revenue needed to fund our basic needs this year and in years to come. After many sessions of budget cuts, lawmakers have solid proposals before them to increase revenue while fixing our regressive tax system that currently allows wealthy households to pay significantly less of their income in taxes than lower income households.

Only One Week Left in
the Regular Session.
Please take action!

The 2015 Washington State Legislative Session officially ends Sunday, April 26. Legislators are likely to go into what's called a special session to finalize a budget. So you have just this week left to tell your legislators to pass a final budget that includes creating new sources of revenue and making deep investments in both affordable housing and safety net services.

Take Action Here!

Learn at Lunch
2015 Session Wrap-up

Join the Housing Alliance to debrief the session and to discuss how affordable housing and homelessness issues fared. If there is a special session, we will discuss what to expect and what advocates can do to ensure that the final budgets include the House’s affordable housing allocations.

2015 Session Wrap-up Webinar
Wednesday, April 29
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Register here!

It is unlikely, although not impossible, that the House and Senate will be able to reach a compromise between the two profoundly different approaches to their budgets before this regular session ends. The House’s Budget includes new revenue, while the Senate’s relies on cuts, transfers and other budget “gimmicks”. If by April 26 (the last day allowed for regular session) no agreement is reached then Governor Jay Inslee will have to call lawmakers into a special session. It is not known what the governor’s plans are. He could call them back immediately or delay the special session convening to give lawmakers a break.

 

You Can Still Advocate!

Advocates can still influence the outcome of the final budget. You have all this week to insist that your lawmakers fund the Housing Trust Fund at $80 million and include all of the House’s operating budget allocations for safety net programs that prevent and end homelessness. You can help ensure our legislative champions stay strong and less supportive lawmakers have a reason to change their minds.

Please take action today to send your lawmakers off with a strong and clear message about what the final budgets should include.

As always, stay tuned to the Housing Alliance’s social media (Twitter and Facebook) throughout the week for timely updates.

 

Join the Housing Alliance Team!

Now you have an opportunity to join our awesome team leading the movement to ensure all Washington residents have the opportunity for safe, healthy, affordable homes in thriving communities. We are searching for an Operations and Finance Administrator. Go here for details and how to apply.

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