For the Reporter

Kent-area mom and activist Mary Howes is traveling to Olympia on Monday to join a statewide call for fair revenue solutions to Washington’s budget crisis.

As a constituent of the 47th Legislative District, Howes will testify in a People’s Hearing about why fair, accountable and shared revenue is critical to the future of Washington State.

“I have three children in Kent public schools, and every year it’s so uncertain,” Howes said. “My children could be in a reasonable class size, or not, have proper classroom materials, or not. We hear over and over that we can’t fund smaller class sizes and still support social services. I disagree. If we can find a way to give billions in tax breaks to Boeing in one day, we can find a fair revenue solution that addresses the needs of our students, especially those living in poverty.”

Howes is part of a statewide team called The 49 for Fairness – a group of taxpayers, small business owners, teachers, nurses, parents, and many others from Walla Walla to Bellingham to Vancouver, representing each of Washington’s 49 legislative districts. Frustrated about the Senate leadership’s unwillingness to limit corporate tax breaks and ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share, these representatives are holding their own hearing Monday, and delivering thousands of petitions signed by members of the public.

“Washington’s revenue system is the most unfair in U.S., favoring large corporations and the very wealthy, forcing cuts in education, senior services, and other vital services needed for strong communities,” said Reiny Cohen, spokesperson for Washington United for Fair Revenue. “We are bringing together representatives from each legislative district to show statewide support for limiting large tax breaks for the very wealthy and large corporations. Including HB 2224 in the state budget would be a good first step toward bringing fairness to the taxpayers of Washington.”