The ELCA and the Lutheran Public Policy Office have a long history of commitment to working to rectify the injustice of our wealthy but inequitable society. The ELCA’s teaching on Economic Life stresses the importance of correcting regressive tax systems “so that people are taxed progressively in relation to their ability to pay.” Washington State has one of the most regressive tax systems in the United States, a system that increasingly shifts payment for state services onto low and middle income families. That is why the LPPO has endorsed Initiative 1098. I-1098 would provide dedicated funding for education and health care by creating an income tax for couples who earn over $400,000 a year ($200,000 for individuals)-those with incomes in the top 3% of our state. It would reduce owner occupied property tax by 20% and repeal the B&O tax for small business. This initiative would make our tax system more progressive while helping to ensure funding for vital social services. You can find an overview of Initiative 1098 (formerly I-1077), including fliers for download at the Yes on 1098 campaign website here.
The Lutheran Public Policy Office along with the Washington Association of Churches has worked to form the Religious Coalition for Tax Reform (RCTR). The coalition has been meeting and is actively working on getting I-1098 on the ballot. We are holding statewide conference calls for those who want to become engaged in this campaign for justice. The coalition is very aware that we have less than five weeks to collect more than 325,000 signatures for the initiative to qualify for the ballot. And RCTR is organizing Washington’s faith community to do its part. We ask you to join us in this effort.
Ways to get involved:
- Contact the LPPO office and let us know if we can count on you to sign a petition and to gather signatures.
- If you are a religious leader, contact the LPPO office to sign onto the “Why Faith Leaders Support Initiative 1098″ statement (pdf).
- Visit Religious Coalition for Tax Reform on Facebook.
- Join the RCTR conference call next Wednesday, June 2nd, at 3:00pm. Contact the LPPO office for call-in number.
We need clergy and religious leaders willing to sign up and speak out in favor of fairness in our tax system and for reducing the disparity of wealth in our state. As the campaign progresses we will need meeting hosts, a speakers bureau, media contacts, fundraising and more.
Please share this message with your faith community and friends and join us in the call for a more just and equitable tax system. One that is consistent with Luke 12:48 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”