Finalized just in time to avert a partial state government shut-down, negotiators from the House and Senate reached a deal on our state’s biennial budget. Their work was cut out for them this year between the need to meet the McCleary mandate and the challenges of a divided government. We were pleased overall by our […]
The Poverty Action Blog
This time last year, the national Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), our country’s main regulator of banks and lenders, was releasing a strong proposal to rein in payday lenders. And now the CFPB is fighting for its life. Wow – so much has changed in a year! On June 8, the US House passed the Financial CHOICE […]
This week Poverty Action had the happy experience of representing our members and supporters at the bill signing of SB 5347, aka the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Vocational Educational Bill. The new law expands access to vocational education for parents on TANF. All TANF recipients must meet a certain number of “work activity” […]
Throughout the legislative session, the Governor, House of Representatives, and Senate each propose a budget to fund the state’s priorities for the 2017-2019 biennium. After each branch of government introduces a budget proposal, the House Appropriations committee and Senate Ways & Means committee hold hearings on these proposals, each chamber passes their budget, and ultimately […]
The Senate released their state budget. This budget wages a war of attrition on our communities, which is unacceptable. Take action to tell your lawmakers we need a better budget! Instead of forwarding a vision that would make Washington stronger, this nonsensical budget doubles down on the harm in Trump’s proposed federal budget. It attempts […]
Ballots have been mailed out, and it is time once again to take the opportunity the election offers to vote our values at the ballot. The Poverty Action board – with input from our members, staff, and partners – has taken a position on critical statewide ballot initiatives that can have a great impact for […]
The 2018 Legislative Session saw important, progressive reform to access to democracy in Washington. Thanks to the passage of a whole host of voting rights bills, Washingtonians– particularly those from communities traditionally marginalized from the voting process– will now enjoy simplified, expanded access to the polls. The voters’ rights package of bills included: —The Washington Voting […]
Check out the recent post our own Lara Sim co-wrote with Elena Hernandez from Budget & Policy Center! “Kids do better when their parents do better. So policymakers should look for ways to leverage and enhance the tools we have to ensure that they are improving outcomes for the entire family. A great place to […]
Dear community partners, Please consider signing onto our letter to lawmakers encouraging them to oppose a bill that would increase predatory lending and debt settlement in our state. Right now in Olympia, payday lenders are again attempting to skirt Washington’s consumer protections, this time by creating a new financial product. HB 1922/SB 5899 are bills that […]
1. EDUCATION A strong education system builds a strong state. When people have access to a high-quality education starting with K-12, people have a stronger chance of obtaining economic stability. In Washington, not all schools are meeting the challenge to build a strong foundation for success. Students of color and low-income students are disproportionately affected […]