Please use the links below to view articles and opinion pieces generated by Washington Appleseed. You may also visit individual project pages to find media relating to particular areas of interest.
March 3, 2008
Helping working families a good deal for everyone
Sue Donaldson and Gary Locke
With tax reform among the hot topics in Olympia, Washington's Legislature can give a needed boost to the state's economy and help workers in one easy stroke. It's called the Working Families Credit, and it's designed to help struggling low-wage earners make ends meet.
February 14, 2008
Proposal gives low-wage workers in Washington
a tax break
By Sue Donaldson and Michele Radosevich
While lawmakers in "the other Washington" have put the finishing touches on an economic stimulus package that will provide checks from the federal government to many nationwide, here in Washington State, discussions are taking place on how to reduce the regressivity of our tax structure and its disproportionate effect on low-wage individuals and their families.
August 29, 2007
Helping Children of Girls in Detention
By Claire McHugh, Kelly Angell and Alice Ostdiek
The proportion of girls to boys in incarceration is steadily rising in the juvenile justice system. Due to the steadily increasing number of girl offenders, the juvenile justice system regularly comes into contact with teens who are pregnant or already parents. It's a problem, but it's also a valuable opportunity.
March 29, 2007
The Value of Early Education
By Diana Stone, Christopher Anderson and Ruth Lipscomb
What is the most basic obligation of our state? According to our constitution, the state's "paramount duty" is to provide an education to all of its children. A coalition of school district officials, union leaders and civic activists recently filed suit against Washington State, claiming it has failed in that duty and must increase spending on "basic education."
February 8, 2007
Tax Credits Unclaimed by City's Low -Income Workers
by Jan Drago and Diana Stone
Many Washingtonians work full time and still struggle to afford basic necessities. Washington Appleseed's Keeping Afloat project is working directly with employers and enlisting their help in reaching eligible low-income employees to increase participation in a variety of benefits and services designed to help them make ends meet.
December 5, 2006
Parents Key to Kids' Education
by Adie Simmons and Kelly Warner-King
If educators and policymakers want to make real progress toward meeting the state's challenging achievement goals, it's critical they actively engage parents as partners. Appleseed's report It Takes a Parent demonstrates the importance of parental engagement in educational policy.
February 28, 2005
Transportation: A Reformist Agenda
by Sue Donaldson and Deb Eddy
A connection needs to be made between reform of transportation governance structures and successful funding of transportation. Clarity of responsibility and political accountability for transportation planning and financing is required to improve public trust.
December 22, 2004
Job 1 for New Governor: Review Election
by Sue Donaldson
Regardless of who becomes our governor, one of her or his first acts should be to appoint a blue-ribbon commission to review this election and make recommendations to the Legislature for practical, immediate reforms. No one wants future elections to rely so heavily on the involvement of the courts and lawyers.