RAISING THE FLOOR

Corporate tax reform and minimum wage raises go together

Hundreds gathered in Seattle’s Labor Temple. The occasion: a rally to kick off the launch of 15Now.org, a grassroots organization dedicated to raising Seattle’s minimum wage. Kshama Sawant’s successful campaign was centered around a 15$/hr minimum wage, and the idea has been endorsed by Mayor Ed Murray, as well as Working Washington, the organization behind SeaTac’s historic 15$ minimum wage initiative.

But minimum wage was not the only issue on the table. Corporate tax reform, such as the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act legislation introduced by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) would raise $220 billion dollars of US revenue over the next ten years, stop tax subsidies for exporting jobs overseas, force corporations to pay their fair share of taxes, and help to level the playing field between corporations and small businesses, allowing small businesses to create good jobs.

Washington CAN!, the state’s biggest grassroots organization, emphasized the need to insert tax reform into the living wage debate.

“As the living wage conversation heats up in Seattle, we must also keep in mind efforts to curb income inequality at the top. Legislation like the Levin Bill would hold multi-national corporations accountable for their full share of tax contributions, and would provide the resources needed to kick-start the economy and ease legislation focused on austerity” said Washington CAN! organizer Chris Genese.

Filing deadline for a $15/hr referendum that bypasses the City Council and puts the decision directly in front of Seattleites is late March.