Statewide Construction Projects Killed By GOP
The legislature adjourned for its third special session this Thursday – the longest session in state history is now over, but one critical piece of work was left undone. The state’s capital budget, which funds more than $4 billion in construction projects across Washington, passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 92-1, but Republicans held it hostage in the Senate and refused to bring it up for a vote. The bipartisan capital budget failed to pass, and now infrastructure across the state will be unable to go forward.
What do we lose as a result? The budget supports 19,000 good trades and construction jobs annually that will now be lost. The capital budget would have invested $1 billion in school construction – an essential element of reducing class sizes and fully funding education under the McCleary decision – along with $800 million in maintenance and construction at our colleges and universities. It would have funded 115 new beds for providing critical mental health care at Western and Eastern State Hospitals. It would have invested in affordable housing projects, as communities across our state face a crisis of affordability. And it would have supported rural areas with clean water protections, irrigation projects, and farmland preservation.
For a list of specific projects sorted by legislative district, go here and click your LD number to see what projects will be lost in your district because of Republican obstruction.
Clearly, the Republicans are all talk on jobs – and by killing this budget, they’ve let down every corner of our state, even their own districts will suffer. It’s more important than ever that we retake the state Senate and get a state government that actually works again.
Campaign with Manka and Gov. Inslee!
Making sure we have a functional state government that reflects and advances our progressive priorities starts with retaking the state Senate. Manka Dhingra, running in the 45th LD in the Redmond/Kirkland area, is one of our best chances to win the seat we need for a Democratic Senate. If you live in the area, Manka and Gov. Jay Inslee are going doorbelling this Sunday, and they’d love for you to join them there!
The canvassing kickoff will be from Manka’s campaign office. Here are the details:
Date: Sunday, July 23
Time: 10 AM – 1 PM
Location:
Manka Dhingra Campaign Office
8151 164th Ave NE
Redmond, WA 98052
You can RSVP through this link here. Hope to see you there!
Our New E-Canvassing Program
Our new eCanvass program is a way to get out the vote of your friends, family, and contacts – from home!
Our eCanvass program is an easy way to send a reminder email to your email contacts, letting them know about the importance of voting in their local elections. All of your information and contacts stay private – the party doesn’t get any data or email information from you, but your friends get their personalized voting reminder from you. Click here to learn more and get set up with eCanvass.
Report on Trump’s First Six Months
Trump’s six-month report card is just as dreadful as it was for his first 100 days. There have been showy claims and plenty of grandstanding, but he’s failed to back them up while pushing a deeply flawed and conservative agenda. And the American people have recognized this – he’s the most unpopular president at this point in his first term since modern polling began.
The most substantive work Trump has done has been to sow uncertainty and unrest, proposing a dreadful budget and backing a health care repeal bill that would have left millions without health care, slash protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and raise insurance premiums. His agenda is a disaster for our economy as well – his budget would dismantle education funding and he and his fellow Republicans are desperate to pass tax cuts for the rich that prioritize the 1% over the middle class.
Trump has caused the world’s opinion of the United States to plummet, and he’s isolated the United States from our allies, undermining our national security.
Trump is failing the workers in the auto, manufacturing, construction, and coal industries who he promised to lift up during his campaign. The American auto industry is slowing down and automakers are cutting jobs after years of recovery and growth. Despite Trump’s promise that companies would not leave, jobs continued to move overseas. Companies including Carrier, Rexnord, Boeing, Harley-Davidson, Ford and General Motors cut American jobs, despite Trump’s promises to their workers.
Trump claims he’s signed the more bills than any President. That’s a lie. Trump has signed zero major laws and accomplished nothing of importance over his first six months in office. But he has found the time to spend 40 days relaxing at his golf courses.
Oh, and now he’s under investigation for possible obstruction of justice charges relating to his campaign’s collusion with Russia during the election. And this is just in the first six months!
America deserves leaders who will fight to create good jobs, raise wages, offer true paid leave, and provide education opportunities for all in order to ensure economic opportunity. This is what Democrats stand for, this is what Democrats are fighting for, and we won’t back down. It all starts with winning our local elections this year and retaking Congress next year by beating Dave Reichert, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and other Republicans across our state and our country.
Tina’s Tour of Washington
Keep an eye out for news from us on Tina’s upcoming tour of Washington state! Starting next weekend she’ll be going from Vancouver, to Goldendale, to Wenatchee, spending primary election night (Tuesday August 1st) with our 7th LD Senate candidate Karen Hardy and House candidate Susan Swanson in Republic, and finishing up in Spokane, and holding town halls and public events along the way. We’ll be sending out more information soon as the events are finalized, but in the meantime, information on the primary election night event on Tuesday August 1st in Republic is on Facebook here. We’re looking forward to this tour and talking with and listening to Democrats and voters across our state about how we build our party!
Our Summer of Canvass is Ramping Up!
With ballots in the hands of voters across the state this week, it’s more important than ever that we’re out talking to people about our Democratic values, listening to their concerns and priorities, and building our party in every corner of the state.
We’ve already had hundreds of people step up to get involved in our Summer of Canvass program, but with just days left before the primary election, this is a crucial time to sign up and get out on the doors.
We’re having canvasses across the state, and we need your help.
If you can’t make it out on the doors, you can help fund our field organizing efforts by joining The Resistance – our monthly fundraising program that goes directly into field organizing and other party building efforts like the Summer of Canvass.
Click here to find out more and help fund our grassroots efforts at $3, $7 or $14 dollars a month – even $27 – makes a huge difference! Thanks for considering and again, here is the link.
