Chisme Politico, Week 8
March 5, 2021
Read all the previous Chisme Politicos here to catch up!
Saludos, friends of LCF and Progreso!
We are moving right along in this session — HUGE news for our bills on our agenda making their way into the opposite chamber! Today you’ll find some calls to action from us, some advice from our friendly neighborhood lobbyist, Guillermo Rogel Jr., and we break down what Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program is all about.
Actions For You To Take 💢
E2SSB 5141 HEAL Act
The HEAL Act is now in the House Chamber, has landed in the House Energy and Environment Committee and will be scheduled for public hearing on March 12. Now is the time to email legislators in the committee to pass this swiftly! Use this email template or check out the social media toolkit to use their language and spread the word on this bill.
ESHB 1078 Voting Rights Restoration
This bill is scheduled for a public hearing on March 12th in the State Government and Elections Committee. Check the link to email the legislators in the committee to pass this bill.
ESHB 1054 Police Tactics Bill
Now in the Senate Law and Justice Committee, the bill will be scheduled for a public hearing on March 11, 10:30am. Bring your testimony or sign in pro! There’s been lots of pushback on the House Republican side, so contact the legislators on this committee to vote “aye” on ESHB 1054.
Materiales en Español 🗣️
Es muy difícil encontrar recursos y materiales en varios lenguajes que comparten información acerca de los proyectos de ley. Seguiremos compartiendo videos, imagenes, y traducciones que ayuden a nuestra comunidad estar más involucrada en asuntos que nos afectan. Por favor comparta este video que cubre la importancia de pasar el proyecto de ley SB 5226: esta ley afecta a las personas con licencias que son suspendidas cuando una persona no puede pagar las multas. Debemos informarles a los legisladores que la falta de una licencia de conducir representa una barrera a una entrada exitosa al mercado laboral y un peligro para las personas de color y comunidades inmigrantes. No dejemos a las personas conducir pobre. ¡Comparta este video con tus redes!
https://www.facebook.com/1181229896/videos/10221937060153894/
Speaker Spotlight 🎙️
Progreso has had the honor of working with many lobbyists and activists of color, but this week we sat down with Guillermo Rogel Jr., a consultant and lobbyist for Front and Centered. We asked for some of his favorite things about the legislative session and some advice he has for folks looking to dive into the legislative process head first!
What’s it like navigating the state legislative spaces as a lobbyist of color?
I took notice pretty quickly that there were not many lobbyists of color in Olympia, but I think I got lucky in that my communities of color found me. When I first moved to Washington in 2016, I was welcomed by a host of different progressive organizations and lobbyists of color who had been around Olympia for a while. Spaces like the Racial Equity Team and the WA Voting Justice Coalition were filled with inspiring advocates of color that empowered me to be my authentic-self in Olympia.
It is a little bit complex though because if you had asked me this same question a year ago the response might have been a little bit different. Racial and social justice has been at the forefront of most legislators’ minds this legislative session which is not really what we’ve been seeing the last few years in Olympia. I think as a result the legislative space has become a little bit more receptive to the messages that lobbyists of color deliver on behalf of the communities they advocate for. We have to be careful though that racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, and so on don’t just become keywords for the state legislature.
What’s your favorite part about the legislative session?
I think my favorite part about the legislative session is how fun and dynamic the whole process can be. Don’t get me wrong, the legislative environment is stressful, there are so many moving parts and often comments from your opposition might want to make you take your hair out but it can be fun too!
Underneath all the politics and horse-trading (you scratch my back I scratch your back type deals) that happen in Olympia, there is a community of progressive advocates who are working towards a healthier and more prosperous state for all Washingtonians. That community becomes a little family of allies and friends which makes creating change a lot more attainable and entertaining. In this work, I think you have to be optimistic and find the good in things to make it through the legislative session alive and well, or at least with as few grey hairs as possible.
What advice would you give to other POC looking to enter this space?
I would really encourage young people of color who are joining the space to talk about how they’re feeling as the bill-making/lobbying process is going on. If you sense there’s a certain community that’s being left out of the conversation say it. If you think a critical social service program needs more funding on top of a policy change say it. If you think you need more information before making a decision say it. Because when these kinds of things are not said we tend to only look at spreadsheets and reports and lose the impact in the process.
There’s a lot more going on than what’s on paper. Once you start assessing the situation for yourself or talking to different allies and community members you’ll start to realize that the way you’re feeling is probably the way a lot of other people are feeling!
Concept of the Week: Seattle Democracy Vouchers 🎟️
Democracy vouchers are a fairly new concept. Cities around the nation have been attempting to adopt this public campaign financing system where the government would mass distribute (free!) money in envelopes, or vouchers, to voters before upcoming elections. This money could be used by voters to donate to their political candidate of choice (in participating elections…Not all of them are eligible for the vouchers).
Seattle, WA is the first in the nation to adopt this system. In January of 2018, many Seattle residents received $100 in a little white envelope in which they would fill in their candidates of choice, sign it like a check, and mail it back to the city. Just like that, you’re a big-wig funder donating money like a boss. Money is power, baby!
A fun fact from Wikipedia:
“The program was funded by a $3 million citywide increase in the real estate tax. The system was “first come, first served”, with just 47,000 vouchers honored. A similar plan was put forward by 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang. “Democracy Dollars” as the plan was called would give each registered voter $100 to put towards the political campaign of their choice annually.”
So put your democracy dollars to work! You should be receiving $100 in a white envelope from the City of Seattle in the upcoming weeks before the mayoral, city attorney, and certain city council position elections.
Here’s a social media graphic to share with your friends and family!
Thanks for making it this far! We’ll see you next week.
If you have suggestions for our newsletter, please contact margot@progresowa.org.
