News & Stories

Food safety and public health top the list of benefits of ensuring people working in Seattle have paid sick leave – but according to a new report, it would also improve children’s health and school performance, and provide support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. There are economic benefits too: paid sick leave […]

As the paid sick days proposal continues to “snowball” in Seattle, this story from King 5 News profiles a restaurant that provides paid sick days and one that does not. From the story: “Well I think that it’s very much an investment in my most valuable asset – that is, my people.” – Molly Moon […]

– Alex Stone, Communications Manager, EOI In my family, Mother’s Day usually includes an assortment of flowers, cards, candy and family time spent over sit-down meal. After all, Mother’s Day is an important day to honor and thank mom for all she’s done. As a child, my mother always packed my lunch, helped my sister […]

This weekend, EOI Policy Director Marilyn Watkins gave a presentation at the Washington State PTA conference. The theme of the presentation was “Can we fund the education system our kids need: Public budgets and the public good”. The following videos of Marilyn’s presentation, courtesy of PTA member (and EOI Board member) Matt Loschen, explains the […]

From Public Pensions in Washington State: Pensions enable retirees to live out their older years in dignity. In the United States, an employer-provided retirement plan has long been considered an essential complement to Social Security and personal savings to ensure retirees have satisfactory incomes and certainty for household finances. However, public pensions have increasingly come […]

From the Spokane Spokesman-Review: Washington state is fast on its way to becoming the Evergreen gated community, with starkly different futures for the haves and have-nots. It’s time to tell our elected officials to set a better course. Our state is at a defining crossroads. Funding for vital public services such as kindergarten, class-size reductions, […]

Marilyn Watkins, Policy Director for the Economic Opportunity Institute, will be speaking live on KUOW’s “The Conversation” tomorrow (5/3/2011) at 12 noon, to discuss the need for paid sick days in Seattle. Tune in to 94.9 FM, or listen online here.

From the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS): A recent study by the National Institute on Retirement Security found that defined benefit pension income plays a critical role in reducing the risk of poverty and hardship for older Americans. The report, The Pension Factor, found that pensions reduce – and in some cases eliminate – the […]

From the Everett Herald: Pensions enable us to live out our older years in dignity. In the United States, an employer-provided retirement plan has long been considered an essential complement to Social Security and personal savings to ensure retirees have satisfactory incomes and certainty for household finances. Since 1937, our state has developed a network […]

By Gary Burris, EOI Senior Policy Associate State legislators are floating new proposals to end billions of dollars in tax loopholes now on the books, in an effort to curb $5 billion in projected cuts to education, health care and other services. With about half of the Senate Democrats in attendance, a group of Senators […]

Via the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce: Publicola has a great story on the campaign to ensure all workers in Seattle have paid sick days – but they’re already seeing comments from a few people who think responsible, healthy prevention should take a back seat to personal profit. They need your comments in support […]

Via Social Security Works – WA; From the Public News Service: Members of Washington state’s congressional delegation are getting an earful during this recess about proposed changes to Medicare and Social Security. In the debate about the futures of these programs, some want Congress to look back at what the country was like without them. […]

Via Sightline Institute: I filed my taxes a long time ago (just one of the many benefits of being married to someone far, far more organized than I am). So, I haven’t been thinking about my own taxes much this week—except to hope for a refund and follow President Obama’s road-show about his budget (He […]

From Real Change News: Got the sniffles? If your job pays for sick days, you can stay home without losing income. Not everyone is so lucky: In Seattle, roughly 190,000 workers, or four in 10 employees, don’t have that option, according to a new group called the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce. The group […]

The Economic Opportunity Institute is offering paid internship opportunities during summer 2011 for qualified candidates. Two positions are available – one in policy research and the other in communications. Research Internship Position Outline: Conduct research in support of EOI’s policy work in one or more policy areas. Possible areas of focus include, but are not […]

As we’ve noted in previous posts, Washington’s tax structure, last updated in the 1930s, is riddled with tax exemptions for private industry and relies heavily on a sales tax that hits our low- and middle-income workers hardest. This not only exacerbates Washington’s revenue problems – a direct result of the recession – it also contributes […]

From schools and teachers to food inspectors, homeland security, stoplights and emergency rooms, taxes pay for the services, infrastructure and programs that we all enjoy. So on this Tax Day, take a minute to thank taxes – and yourself. Video courtesy of ThankTaxes.org [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QlmgBxxxHQ]

From the Washington News Service: SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington spends more than $800 million a year on corrections, and advocates for children believe there’s a way to reduce that number – by funding early learning programs. On Thursday, the Spokane police chief, sheriff and prosecuting attorney agreed. They cite a Michigan study that found at-risk […]

By Gary Burris, Senior Policy Associate With the current state budget shortfall, federal budget deficits and looming cuts in vital services, it’s easy to miss a few of the good things that are happening in our state legislature. Specifically, several bills currently on their way to the Governor’s desk will increase consumer protection for homeowners […]

From the Everett Herald: One hundred fifty years ago this week South Carolina troops fired on Fort Sumter, beginning the Civil War. The seeds of war were planted in 1619, when the first Africans were forcefully kidnapped and brought to Virginia. Their status at that time was akin to indentured servants brought over from England. […]