2015 Legislative Agenda

printable version

1. Revenue & Tax Reform:
   • Pass a capital gains tax on the wealthy to raise additional revenue to fund Basic Education and meet McCleary obligations
   • Close corporate tax exemptions that lack accountable performance objectives and results in terms of living-wage jobs and other measurable community benefits
   • Require the Legislature to adopt a Tax Expenditure Budget as part of the state biennial budget appropriations process
2. Transportation:
   • Authorize sustainable local, regional and state funding for transit
   • Move people and freight safely and efficiently while minimizing carbon pollution
3. Election Reform:
   • Send a resolution to Congress calling for a constitutional amendment that corporations are not people and money is not speech
   • Require campaign disclosure of “dark money” spending by nonprofits
   • Support initiative reform
4. Education:
   • Fully fund K-12 Basic Education consistent with the McCleary order
   • Restore 70% state share of higher ed funding (2002) vs. students’ share 30%
   • Support school construction in the state capital budget
   • Support funding for two free years of college or technical school
5. Environment:
   • Pass a carbon pollution cap and trade system to make polluters pay
   • Pass the Oil Transportation Safety Act
6. Labor:
   • Pass a capital budget focused on repairing infrastructure to create jobs
   • Raise the minimum wage statewide towards a goal of a living wage
   • Provide paid sick leave for workers statewide
   • Pass wage theft bills
7. Housing and Human Services:
   • Maintain the social safety net: Homeless, hungry, sick children can’t learn.
   • Fund low-income housing in the capital budget at the highest level possible, with $100 million recommended
   • Create a Medicaid Supportive Housing Services benefit
8. Criminal Justice:
   • Pass sentencing and juvenile justice system reform
   • Pass a workable medical cannabis regulation that respects the needs of patients.
   • Repeal the death penalty
9. Reproductive Rights:
   • Pass the Reproductive Health Act
   • Oppose parental notification requirements for reproductive health services

(approved 1/27/2015 by the KCDCC Executive Board)