Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are less than one day away from wrapping up the legislative session on March 12. I know, the session flew by! Even so, we still have so much left to do.
Passing the Millionaire’s Tax
This week we took a huge step toward balancing our upside-down tax code by passing the Millionaire’s Tax off the House floor! This is something that working families across Washington need, advocates have fought tirelessly for over the years, and I had the privilege to speak on final passage of the bill. You can watch that short video here. 
The numbers don’t lie. The overwhelming majority of Washingtonians – 99.75%! – will not have to pay this tax. However, every single Washingtonian will benefit from the essential services this tax helps to provide.
This tax bill puts more money in your pocket with provisions like:
- Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit – 460,000 more families will be eligible
- A sales tax exemption on diapers, hygiene products, and over the counter medications – combined with existing exemptions on food, almost your entire grocery cart will be tax exempt
- Free school meals for all Washington students
- Investments in Fair Start for Kids, child care, and early learning in Washington
Change is always hard, but this change is a concrete measure that will make the lives of families across Washington easier in the future and keep Washington affordable for everyone.
I talked about the importance of the Millionaire’s Tax in my latest video here.
What’s next?
We still need to pass our state budgets. Of the three budgets we pass, the operating budget is the big one that pays for human services, K-12 schools, higher education, and much more. I’m sure you’ve already heard of the budget challenge we currently face, that’s now been exacerbated since the federal government has largely abandoned its economic partnership with the states. Thankfully our budget teams center equity to minimize harm, and ensure Washingtonians remain housed, fed, and able to access health care.
One more note:
This year I sponsored House Resolution 4010 to honor Aysenur Eygi and request the United States open an independent investigation into her killing. She was a recent graduate from the University of Washington, a student leader, an American, and her family are residents of our district. Aysenur was participating in a demonstration against settlements in the West Bank when she was shot.
Aysenur is not just a headline; she was a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She was a warm, kind, brave, smart, passionate, and devoted member of the Washington community. She believed deeply that every human life has dignity, and that silence in the face of injustice is a form of complicity. The United States routinely does investigations into the deaths of Americans abroad. 
While the resolution did not move forward during this legislative session, I stand with Aysenur’s family and will continue to work towards passage of the resolution. I’m inspired by her commitment to human rights and her ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Keep an eye out for my next e-news update where I’ll be able to share how the session ended, what our budgets include, the bills we passed on affordability and protecting Washington residents, and more.
In Solidarity,
Rep. Chipalo Street.