#Seattle big business tax series
This dispute is the latest in a series of disagreements over political tactics and preemption between Sawant and legislative Democrats.īased on numerous public statements Sawant has made in the past, the inclusion of the “Tax Amazon movement” in her testimony seemed to dovetail with her position on how progressive tax reform is achieved. This is not a reference to the bill that passed in the city of Seattle. I have asked you three times to stay focused on the bill at hand. I’m sorry, I’ve asked everybody to stay focused on the bill at hand and to honor decorum. Last month state lawmakers told Crosscut they will need to ‘phase out Seattle’s Amazon Tax’ as part of…įrame: Councilmember I’ve asked you three times to stay focused on the bill at hand. Sawant: It is focused on every bill that you will talk about on taxing the wealthy and big business. Would you please let me continue?įrame: If it is focused on the bill at hand Councilmember. Public comment impugning the intentions even, as you said, is completely 100 percent protected by the first amendment. Sawant: No you are completely subverting the constitution. Sawant: I’m sorry, I have a constitutional right to testify and you should not be interrupting me.įrame: In matters of decorum, we need you focused on the bill at hand Councilmember. Last month, state lawmakers told Crosscut that they will need to ‘phase out Seattle’s Amazon Tax as part of enacting a statewide business tax measures.’įrame: Councilmember this is not related to the current bill. Sawant: It is focused on the bill at hand. The City Council….įrame: Councilmember can you keep your comments focused on the bill at hand please? Last year, our Tax Amazon movement scored a historic victory in the Black Lives Matter Protests when thousands of community members fought for and won Seattle’s tax on biggest corporations to fund COVID relief, affordable housing, and green new deal projects.
I urge you to also publicly commit to enact these taxes without undermining the local taxing authority for progressive taxes. Politicians in Olympia have a historic responsibility to urgently pass statewide taxes on the wealthy. But now even during a pandemic, American billionaire’s net worth has increased by a staggering trillion dollars. Systematic long-term starving of public resources has led to criminal underfunding of education, house, health care, jobs and human services. Sawant: To say a bill to tax extreme wealth and profiteering is overdue is a gross understatement. Sawant has claimed that Democrats in Olympia are attempting to preempt, limit, or phase out taxes passed by the City of Seattle.įirst, here is a word for word transcript of the exchange between Frame and Sawant.
The dispute between the officials is a continuation of a criticism that Sawant, a Socialist, has leveled against Democratic state legislators this session and last.
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