New tax credit, public option success, last 747 made, Black History Month

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE |||

New Working Families Tax Credit returns up to $1,200 for eligible families
Applications are now being accepted for the state Working Families Tax Credit, providing up to $1,200 to qualifying households.

The new Washington’s Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) will provide up to a $1,200 cash refund. Approximately 400,000 households qualify statewide. The tax credit officially launched Wednesday, and the application portal is now open on the state Department of Revenue’s website.

The launch marks a major step forward in the progress Washington has made towards building an economy that works for everyone. In recent years, that effort has included changing the state’s tax system to support the economic wellbeing of working families.

In 2021, an analysis found that low-income Washingtonians pay 17% of their income in taxes while middle-class people pay 11% and the wealthiest pay just 3%. Programs like the WFTC are righting this upside-down tax structure by making Washington’s tax system less regressive.

Tax software and tax professionals can help filers apply for the credit.

The WFTC is also available to undocumented workers and those who use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to file.

State’s Cascade Care health coverage option gains steam
Gov. Jay Inslee and a crowd gather for the signing of the first public option into law in 2019
Gov. Jay Inslee and a crowd of Washingtonians each hold up a finger to celebrate Washington as the first state in the nation to offer a public option for health insurance

In 2019, Washington state was the first state to approve a lower-cost health insurance option aimed at providing a high-quality, low-cost health plans as part of Washington Health Benefit Exchange.

The recent open enrollment period posted encouraging figures. Nearly 37,000 new customers signed up for coverage through the Washington Healthplanfinder, the largest net gain to date. More than 60% of customers that found coverage through the exchange chose subsidized Cascade Care or public-option Cascade Care Savings plans. Enrollment in Cascade Care plans by customers in Eastern Washington soared by 200% in some counties.

Customer savings are substantial. More than 36% of Washingtonians that purchased health coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder now pay less than $100 per month for health coverage. The public option plan is now available in 34 (up from 25 last year) of Washington’s 39 counties, and it is the lowest-cost health plan in 25 counties.

It is not too late for customers who are unsure whether they qualify for Cascade Care Savings to visit wahealthplanfinder.org and sign up for 2023 coverage if found eligible.

Legislative session – week 4 in review

Among the bills heard in committee this week were proposals to expand eligibility for the new Working Families Tax Credit, the TSWIFT Consumer Protection Act that cracks down on unfair treatment of consumers and limits “dynamic pricing” sales, and the Fair Repair Act that would make it easier for people to repair equipment such as smartphones, laptops and tablets. There was also public testimony on two bills that would ensure Washington’s school kids are taught about the impacts that people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and other ethnic and cultural groups in Washington and the U.S. On Wednesday, the Senate adopted a resolution honoring the Washington National Guard.

Meanwhile, the House and Senate have also started running bills on the floor. This week’s bill votes included unanimous passage of a Senate bill to establish Chinse American History month, and a bill to make it easier for people escaping abusive situations and transgender people to seal name change records.

News you might have missed:

February is Black History Month, a national celebration of Black leadership, progress, traditions, and culture. The Washington State Arts Commission has curated a special online gallery of Black art displayed within the state. Local celebrations are planned in Western Washington, Central Washington, Eastern Washington, and elsewhere.

The final Boeing 747 takes off from Everett

The last Boeing 747 took off from the Boeing facility in Everett this week, ending a 54-year manufacturing run for the “Queen of the Skies.” Generations of Washingtonians had their hand in producing 1,547 747 aircraft over the years. While 747 production has ceased, Boeing announced their Everett facility will soon host a fourth production line for the popular 737 MAX aircraft. The Everett line will operate in addition to three lines in Renton.

Emergency proclamation issued to address winter storm damage

Extreme winter weather and flooding in late December affected 13 counties and caused widespread damage. Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation Tuesday to activate resources to repair damage to homes, business, roads, and utility networks.

Corrections officials test new program to shift culture and outcomes in prisons

The Washington State Department of Corrections is implementing a program first pioneered in Norway to improve prison culture. The Amend project from the University of California San Francisco facilitates exchanges between the Washington state Department of Corrections and Norwegian correctional authorities. The program not only improves outcomes for incarcerated individuals, but also improves conditions for corrections officers.

ATF releases report finds faster “time to crime” after gun purchases

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Thursday released a detailed report on criminal gun trafficking in the United States. The ATF compiled data on recovered firearms used in crime between 2017 and 2021 and found a faster “time to crime” than in previous reports. Nearly one-quarter of traced guns were used in a crime within a year of purchase, and nearly half within three years. More than one million guns were stolen from private citizens between 2017 and 2021. Within Washington, the Tacoma Police Department has observed that a gun is stolen every 48 hours from private vehicles in Tacoma. Law enforcement has cautioned gun owners to secure firearms and follow safe handling procedures.