My Platform
Universal Healthcare
Access to quality healthcare that is free should be a human right. Healthcare costs are out of control in Washington state and across the country. I fully support implementing a Universal Healthcare plan through the Washington Health Trust which would make healthcare free at the point of service and actually save the state money. I encourage you to visit Home - Whole Washington to learn more.
Create a statewide universal public insurance plan
Expand and deprivatize Medicare & Medicaid
Create an employer-mandate to provide health insurance to entire workforce
Fully cover all minors
Update Washington’s Social Safety Net System
Our social safety net programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and other social safety net programs are massively outdated and cruel and only help the poorest Washingtonians while many who need help fall through the cracks. We need to completely overhaul and update the requirements so that more Washingtonians can receive the benefits they need when they need it.
A Housing Guarantee
I believe that housing should be a human right and that everyone should have a home. It’s actually cheaper in the long run to provide people with housing now.
Expand housing supply through new construction
Invest in alternative housing models including social, cooperative, and public
Enact a long-term vacancy tax
Make home ownership practical for the working clas
Universal Basic Dividend/Income
While the gap between the wealthy and the middle class/working class continues to grow, Many Americans are struggling to pay for basic necessities. By enacting a windfall profits tax on top businesses in Washington state and then distributing those funds evenly as a direct cash payout to all Washington residents, the prosperity of our business sector will become synonymous with a prosperous people. No longer will "business interests" be seen and treated as separate from "people interests." This would supplement assistance programs like SSI/SSDI people already benefit from, NOT replace them!
A living Wage
Washington state is ranked 9th as one of the most expensive states in the country and over 60% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck. This must be addressed at all levels of government. My campaign has endorsed the Everett Deserves a Raise campaign (you can find more information here: https://www.everettdeservesaraise.com/ ). However, this is a statewide crisis and I will begin to address this issue in the following ways
A cost-of-living based minimum wage automatically adjusted annually
Incorporates cost of healthcare, housing, food, utilities, and gasoline
Adjusted based on hiring location to encourage local hiring
Minimums set based on averages at state, county, and municipal level
I also support:
-Progressive tax reform by ending the regressive state property and sales taxes and instead find revenue in other untapped sources to avoid financial hardship for individuals, especially the working/middle class while making the wealthy pay their fair share.
-Tuition free Continuing Education including public universities, community colleges, and trade schools.
-Public Banking We need a public banking sector accountable to public oversight to end the state's reliance on commercial and out-of-state financial institutions like Wells Fargo, and other national banks. This would allow communities to better fund public projects and help provide better and more affordable banking services to individuals and families. It has been a successful program in North Dakota for over 100 years and several other states are looking into public banking as well.