WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Week 8 Update: Passing the state Voting Rights Act, strengthening families and the middle class

Washington Voting Rights Act clears the House

50 years after Martin Luther King’s march from Selma to Montgomery, and 50 years after passage of the federal Voting Rights Act, there are still communities in Washington that struggle to make their voices heard in local elections. When our electoral system disenfranchises any individual or group, it undermines the very core of our democracy. The City of Yakima recently lost a lawsuit under the federal Voting Rights Act because polarized voting was denying Latino candidates an equal opportunity for election. Supreme Court Justice Steven González took a beating in many eastern Washington counties against a white candidate who didn’t even campaign. The unfortunate conclusion is that people voted against his last name.

We can do better for the people of Washington state, and it starts with the Washington Voting Rights Act.

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This week, the House of Representatives approved the Washington Voting Rights Act. This legislation will help ensure fair and equitable elections in local jurisdictions – because too many communities across our state are denied the opportunity to participate fully in the decision making process. It will give people of color who are underrepresented in many local governments across the state a more accurate voice in their representation, but it will not guarantee anybody’s election. However, with local governments establishing more fair election districts, it will provide an equal opportunity for candidates of color.

The bill gives tools to local governments and communities to work out their disputes where they are best resolved – at home. By allowing for collaboration and reducing the need for federal intervention, it will provide a swifter resolution for underrepresented groups while reducing the cost to local jurisdictions. Going to court becomes the last choice, not the first.

House passes minimum wage and paid sick leave

Among the many bills passed this week on the House floor are two middle-class prosperity measures that would help build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. If the Senate supports them and they make it to the governor’s desk, these reforms will make a real difference for many Washington families.

HB 1355 would increase the minimum wage to $12 over a period of four years, and HB 1356 would require employers with five or more employees to offer paid sick and safe leave. Get the full scoop on these two important measures here.

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Closing the Opportunity Gap

Every child deserves an opportunity to learn. But unfortunately, too many students are left behind. This is especially true for students of color. This is commonly referred to as the “opportunity gap.”

Students of color as a whole are testing 20-30 percent below Caucasian students. This is a major problem. The opportunity gap in Washington state is persistent, pervasive, and unacceptable.

Closing the opportunity gap is a critical part of providing educational opportunities and improving academic outcomes for ALL students. I’m pleased to report the House approved a measure, HB 1541, that will make great strides in closing the gap and ensuring all students have a chance to reach their full potential.

You’ll hear a lot about McCleary and our efforts to fully fund education. At the heart of McCleary is the concept that ensuring every child has an opportunity to learn is the state’s paramount duty. Closing the opportunity gap and fully funding education are critical to ensuring all kids have a pathway to success.