Resolutions

Resolution supporting the expansion of Social Security and eliminating the cap on earnings that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax by the 34th District Democratic Organization of the State of Washington

Passed: March 2017

WHEREAS, the gap between the pensions and retirement savings American households actually have and what they need in order to maintain their standard of living was $7.7 trillion as of 2013, and

WHEREAS, forty-seven percent of working-age families had nothing saved in retirement accounts, and the median working-age family had only $5,000 saved, as of 2013; and

WHEREAS, one in three American families had no savings at all, and 56.3 percent of Americans had less than $1,000 in their checking and savings accounts, as of 2015; and

WHEREAS, as of 2011, only about half of United States workers participated in a workplace retirement plan, and only ten percent of all private sector establishments provided defined benefit plans, covering just eighteen percent of private industry employees; and

WHEREAS, as of June 2015, Social Security retiree benefits averaged only about $1,300 per month, and among elderly Social Security beneficiaries, fifty-three percent of married couples and seventy-four percent of unmarried persons received most of their income from Social Security; and

WHEREAS, as of July 1, 2015, 12.4 percent of the King County population was sixty-five years old and older, and 26.3 percent was between forty-five and sixty-four years old; and

WHEREAS, people of color made up 32.3 percent of King County’s population in 2014, and among seniors sixty-five years old and older in 2012 Social Security was the sole source of income for forty-three percent of Hispanics, thirty-seven percent of African Americans and thirty-two percent of Asian and Pacific Islanders, compared to twenty-two percent of whites; and

WHEREAS, as of April 1, 2015, women constituted 55.7 percent of King County’s population over sixty-five years old, and in 2013 the average annual Social Security income received by women sixty-five years old and older was $12,857, compared with $16,590 for men; and

WHEREAS, all wage earners who earn above the cap of $127,200 pay no payroll tax on all of their earnings above the cap, thereby paying an effective tax rate lower than that of wage earners who earn less than the cap; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The 34th District Democrats that:

1. Social Security benefits should be expanded to address the growing crisis of financial insecurity among present and future Social Security recipients.
2. The cap on earnings that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax should be eliminated to pay for the expansion of Social Security benefits.
3. The Executive Board of the 34th District Democrats is directed to send a copy of this motion to the King County Democratic Central Committee, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee and each member of Washington’s congressional delegation.

Resolution supporting House Bill 1646 By 34th District Democratic Organization State of Washington

Passed: March 2017

WHEREAS, the burning of fossil fuels creates air pollution that causes impaired lung function, shortness of breath, wheezing, asthma attacks and premature death;

WHEREAS, the burning of fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases that cause climate change which according to the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group is a major public health risk;

WHEREAS, unless action is undertaken without further delay to return the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ to no more than 350 ppm by 2100, Earth’s climate system will be pressed toward irreversible, ever-worsening, climate-related impacts;

WHEREAS, transitioning off of fossil fuels towards a 100% renewable energy economy is in the best interests of the residents and citizens of Washington;

WHEREAS, nationally, renewable energy businesses are creating jobs 12 times faster than the rest of the economy

WHEREAS, a carbon tax is recommended by many economists as a way to promote the just transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy; and thereby, improve our health and create jobs for our communities in the renewable energy economy;

WHEREAS, HB would use the proceeds of a carbon tax fund to invest in clean energy, clean air, healthy forests, and Washington’s disproportionately impacted communities;

WHEREAS, HB 1646 would strengthen greenhouse emissions limits for the State of Washington;

WHEREAS, HB 1646 is sponsored by representatives Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon, and endorsed by Front and Centered, Got Green and the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLEVD THAT:

The 34th District Democratic Organization urges our caucus in Olympia to give their very highest level of support to House Bill 1646 (Senate Bill 5509). We believe this bill will benefit our communities by improving our health, bringing new jobs and protecting young people’s rights to a healthy climate system.

Resolution regarding Renewable Energy System Tax Incentives and Recycling (HB 1048) by the 34th District Democrats

Passed: February 2017

WHEREAS, in 2006 the State of Washington created the Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Incentive Program; and

WHEREAS, these goals have been codified to the Revised Code of Washington at Title 70, Section 235; and

WHEREAS, the best available climate science requires reducing global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide to below 350 parts per million no later than the end of this century in order to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts; and

WHEREAS, solar is a clean and renewable source of carbon-free energy; and

WHEREAS, solar has already created thousands of jobs in Washington, and could expand greatly; and

WHEREAS, distributed solar makes Washington State more energy independent and resilient; and

WHEREAS, the Western Washington University’s Center for Economic & Business Research finds that for every $1 spent on solar through the Cost Recovery Program has spurred $16-$20 in economic activity; and

WHEREAS, solar power keeps our energy dollars in Washington State; and

WHEREAS, the proposed legislation is much more cost-effective than the current policy for Washington to get as much solar power as possible, giving Washington 5x more solar power per dollar; and

WHEREAS, solar power lessens the costs of adapting to climate disruption; and

WHEREAS, the proposed legislation would create a clear and stable solar program for Washington.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The 34^th District Democratic Organization requests all members of the 34th District legislative join Representative Joe Fitzgibbon in supporting HB 1048 and to ask for hearings on the legislation in each house; and

The Executive Board is directed to send a copy of the proposed legislation along with this resolution to each member of the 34^th District legislative delegation; and

The Executive Board is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the King County Democratic Central Committee Legislative Action Committee.