News & Stories
Policy is personal. So, we want to share more than just data.
Stay up to date with our legislative updates, organizational news, media mentions, and more.
A survey of more than 1,300 Washingtonians shows that 81% report being worried about affording health care.
Bringing over 20 years of public policy experience, Traci has worked to advance economic justice for Washingtonians since 2001.
With you by our side we know we can achieve health equity for immigrants, secure a wealth tax in Washington state to fund thriving communities, and support the powerful labor efforts that advance economic opportunity for all.
Today the U.S. Supreme Court took a devastating step stripping millions of women, trans and nonbinary people across the country of reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and access to safe and comprehensive health care.
Join EOI’s policy staff next Thursday, April 21st at 5:00 pm on Zoom as we reflect on the progress made in Olympia.
Washington legislators wrapped up their short 60-day 2022 session on time on March 10. Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, they passed a number of mostly small but important policy improvements that will help many of the people hit hardest by the pandemic’s health and economic impacts. Using state tax revenues that have come in […]
On February 22, Washington legislators unveiled their proposals to amend the current state budget that runs through June 2023. They had plenty of money to potentially spend, since state tax revenues are coming in faster than expected and federal COVID relief funds remain unallocated. Our people and state also have extraordinary needs. The COVID pandemic […]
As 2021 draws to a close, the COVID-19 pandemic heads into its third year. We face a choice: should we invest in resilient communities and a more equitable economy? Or maintain the status quo and emerge from this pandemic with an even more unequal society than before? Washington needs to increase investments in K-12 and […]
We’ve partnered with Overflow.co to provide you a quick and easy way to donate stock. Donating stock is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give, making sure that more of your gift goes directly toward EOI’s work building a more just economy. Overflow makes it easy to donate online in less than 5 minutes, […]
The COVID pandemic has disproportionately harmed the health and economic security of Black and Brown workers and households, while the wealth of billionaires in the U.S. has soared by 70% since March 2020. According to Federal Reserve data, for the first time the top 1% of Americans hold more wealth than the entire 60% of […]
Investment in the public good is an investment in all of us.
“Had we not had PFML, I would have used the entirety of my vacation bank of 5 weeks, and been back to work around 4 months after giving birth. Thankfully with PFML I didn’t have to touch my vacation time, and was able to take the entire 24 weeks with only a slight decrease in […]
Since the 1980s, the trickle-down economic mantra has led state and federal governments to cut taxes and allow our social and physical infrastructure to crumble. Meanwhile, wealthy corporations and individuals have been able to hoard ever-increasing shares of money, wealth, and power. The Care Economy package now before Congress offers a change of course – […]
Access to health care is imperative to the health of our communities and economy. However, many people face significant barriers in accessing affordable, high-quality health care that meets their cultural needs. A profit-driven medical system, systemic racism, and economic and geographic disparities leave many without adequate health care. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified disparities. Washington […]
Today, on the 56th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, we have a tremendous opportunity to make strides toward achieving universal coverage and affordable access to health care as a nation. By passing a bold budget package that makes much-needed changes to Medicare and closes the Medicaid coverage gap, Congress can help improve the health and […]
In July 2021, the City of Seattle took an important step to recognize the importance of child care workers, approving appreciation payments for those who served on the front lines at the height of the pandemic. When COVID-19 hit last spring, Governor Inslee declared child care workers essential. But with so many businesses forced to […]
Friends, I retired from the Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI) as of July 2nd. It has been almost a quarter of a century of work imagining, founding, and leading EOI. Now it is time for a new generation of progressive populist colleagues to lead our organization into the second quarter of the 21st century. We have […]
Together, our community ran, walked, biked, hiked, and rolled more than 735 miles in support of EOI’s Passing the Baton Fun Run. A generous match donor gave $10 for each mile completed and tripled all gifts up to $10,000. Thanks to your support, we reached our match goal! But this event was about much more than raising […]
Our 2020 Annual Report is here! We are thrilled to share our 2020 Annual Report! 2020 challenged us as individuals, as a community, as a nation, and as a world in ways we could never have imagined. Through it all, EOI laid the groundwork for policy progress that provides a strong foundation for all Washingtonians […]
Following founding Executive Director John Burbank’s retirement announcement in September of 2020, the Board set out to find someone with the right vision and experience to lead EOI into the future. We have found that leader in Board Secretary, progressive advocate, and long-time friend of EOI, Summer Stinson. Bringing over twenty-five years of leadership experience in law and […]
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis recently published new personal income data that make a strong case for Washington’s new capital gains tax. The numbers highlight a long-running trend: On the whole, Washingtonians are getting less of their income from paychecks (wages and salaries) and more from capital gains (dividends/interest) and rent. At the close […]
Washington’s 2021 legislative session was a banner year for health care reform, from advancing universal coverage, to creating health care subsidies, to expanding Medicaid coverage. Advocates were cautious at the outset of 2021, given the challenges of conducting a legislative session exclusively online. It was unclear what we might be able to achieve, especially given […]
Great news! Washington’s legislature passed a budget that makes major investments for child care workers in their compensation and health care – thanks to our mutual efforts working together for the health, economic security, and respect of child care workers. Increased compensation: The state budget passed by the Legislature includes $360 million for child care […]
Steps toward racial equity were in the forefront throughout the session, including automatic restoration of voting rights and multiple measures to rein in excessive use of force and hold police accountable.
Something big happened on Wednesday! The House Finance Committee of Washington’s State Legislature, led by Chairwoman Noel Frame, approved a Wealth Tax on the extraordinary investment holdings of billionaires. This is a major step toward a more fair state tax system, capable of supporting the services we all need to thrive together. Washington is one […]
The state budget proposals just released by Washington’s Senate and House Democrats take steps toward a fairer tax code and make critical investments in individuals and working families hardest hit by the pandemic. This combination of moving toward a more balanced tax system and investments in Washington’s people is the right medicine to build a […]
The American Rescue Plan, the latest in a series of federal relief packages, aims to rebuild America in the midst of dual health and economic crises. President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion package into law Thursday, March 11th, after it passed Congress without a single Republican vote. The package brings critical and timely relief when […]
Cascade Care 2.0 (SB 5377) – our state’s best opportunity to rapidly and significantly improve health care affordability – passed the Washington State Senate on March 2 with amendments that preserved key provisions to make health insurance more affordable for consumers, but stripped out a key cost containment measure. SB 5377 now heads to the […]