Go to www.pushbacknotax.com to sign the petition!

More than 80 state and national groups have signed onto a coalition that was formed explicitly for the purpose of raising taxes this legislative session in Washington state. From the website:

Rebuilding our Economic Future Coalition is an emerging broad-based, statewide coalition of organizations and individuals committed to securing the state's economic future by advocating for passage of a humane and sensible budget for 2010...The coalition supports a full dialogue toward a fair and humane budget that includes not just targeted cuts and reforms to make government more efficient, but a full discussion of potential revenue options as well.

Coalition partners:

•AARP Washington
•American Association of University Women - WA Chapter
•Addus Healthcare
•Alzheimer's Association - Western and Central Washington State Chapter
•Benton Franklin Parent Coalition
•Building Changes
•Cascade Chapter, Sierra Club
•Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
•Children's Alliance
•Chinese Information and Service Center
•Climate Solutions
•Community Health Center La Clinica
•Community Health Network of Washington
•Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
•Dynamic Organizations
•Earth Ministry
•Economic Opportunity Institute
•Elder and Adult Day Services
•ElderHealth Northwest
•Environment Washington
•Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims
•Family Alliance for Mental Health
•Family Resource, Education & Empowerment for Developmental Disabilities
•Food Lifeline
•Fuse
•Futurewise
•Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Association
•HealthPoint
•Housing Development Consortium Seattle-King County
•Inland Empire Residential Resources
•Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts
•King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence
•Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH)
•Lutheran Community Services Northwest
•Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State
•Minority Executive Directors Coalition
•NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
•National Association of Social Workers – WA Chapter
•New Futures
•Northwest Health Law Advocates
•Northwest Progressive Institute
•O.P.E.I.U. Local # 8
•Olympic Area Agency on Aging
•Olympic Community Action Programs
•OneAmerica
•Organizing for America
•Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT)
•Pioneer Human Services
•Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington
•Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
•Resolution Washington
•SEIU Healthcare 775NW
•Skagit Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities
•Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP)
•Sound Thinking
•Statewide Poverty Action Network
•The Lands Council
•The Washington Bus
•Transportation Choices Coalition
•WA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
•WA State Coalition Against DV
•WA State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
•Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging
•Washington Association of Churches
•Washington Community Action Network
•Washington Education Association
•Washington Eldercare Alliance
•Washington Environmental Council
•Washington Federation of State Employees
•Washington Home Care Coalition
•Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
•Washington State Coalition for the Homeless
•Washington State Hospital Association
•Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
•Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
•Washington State PTA
•Washington Student Association
•Washinton State Coalition for the Homeless
•Win/Win Network
•Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
•Washington State Labor Council

Each of these groups employs full-time individuals who are now dedicated to convincing legislators to reach into your pocket to pay for their priorities. They also have an army of paid lobbyists and employees (some of them receiving tax dollars) that can show up at legislative hearings to push for higher taxes.

The Freedom Foundation is one of a handful of groups standing in their way. Will you stand with us? Sign our petition, which asks legislators to budget OUR money the way we budget our money--by spending less! Go to www.pushbacknotax.com to sign the petition.

- Amber Gunn, Freedon Foundation