Paid Sick Days and Restaurant Jobs: The Evidence from San Francisco

In February 2007, San Francisco implemented the nation's first paid sick days law, allowing all workers within the city to earn a minimum amount of paid sick leave. Restaurants are among the employers least likely to provide sick leave benefits, absent such a requirement. Therefore, if minimum paid leave standards affect the number of jobs available, we would expect to see that impact most clearly in the food service industry.The data show that the job market in restaurants and bars has been stronger in San Francisco than in the state of California as a whole in every year since the sick days law passed

Washington's Working Women

The lingering impacts of recession highlight the central importance of women's work to family economic survival - but also the gulf that still separates women's earnings from men's, and the need for new policies that promote healthy workplaces and healthy families

The Straight Facts on Social Security

Social Security is the bedrock of economic security for millions of children, as well as working and retired Americans.Social Security benefits are progressive, replacing half the earnings for a low wage worker, one-third for median wage earners, and one-quarter for high wage workers. Social Security has almost eliminated poverty among the elderly, thanks to lifetime retirement benefits, annual cost of living increases, and family benefits

Social Security Works

For 75 years, Social Security has provided a foundation of economic security for American workers, retirees, and their families. It represents the best of American values, rewarding hard work, looking out for family and community, and honoring the contributions retirees have made to our current prosperity. Social Security is well structured to continue serving future generations as well

Setting Priorities in Washington: Raising revenue to invest in our future

Continued state budget cuts are dragging down Washington's economy, undermining opportunity for our children, and threatening the health of our most vulnerable citizens. We can choose a better path that builds a stronger future for our state.Over the past three years, Washington's budget has been slashed by roughly $6 billion. Reductions affect everyone -- with larger classes and fewer staff in public schools, higher tuition and fewer course offerings at universities and community colleges. And with 137,000 people on the wait list for the Basic Health Plan, fragile seniors losing in-home services, and low-income children losing quality childcare, budget cuts will also mean more layoffs in every community in the state

Creating jobs and boosting our economy

In 2009, Washington's legislature slashed billions from the state budget, adding to the misery of recession by cutting services, jobs, and incomes of public servants. Virtually every area of state government was affected, including K-12 education, higher education, health care, the social safety net, and public safety.Directly and indirectly, those state budget cuts are costing Washington an estimated 44,000 jobs.With the economy only tentatively recovering from the deep hole of this long recession, the state now faces an additional budget gap of $2.6 billion. If the legislature were to cut that entire amount from state services, our state would lose another 33,600 private and public sector jobs. Even a$1 billion reduction in state spending would trigger losses of 13,000 more jobs.In contrast, maintaining state services through a combination of $1.6 billion in new state taxes, plus$1 billion in enhanced federal aid and transfers from other funds would result in a net savings of 18,600 to 29,000 jobs for the working people of Washington

Washington State Budget Cuts $5.2 Billion -- and Counting

Over 3 budget years from 2009 to 2011, Washington State has grappled with a $12 billion shortfall between the projected need for public services and state revenues -- which have plunged because of the recession. Federal stimulus money and the rainy day fund made up some of the difference, and the state raised$918 million with tighter standards and new taxes. Still, Washington's legislature has cut $5.2 billion, impacting schools, childcare centers, health clinics, assisted living facilities, families, and individuals across the state.Despite continued population growth, inflation, and increased needs caused by the recession, Washington's 2-year General Fund budget for 2009-11 is barely above the 2005-07 level and$2.7 billion below the amount originally budgeted for 2007-09 -- an 8% drop

Who can stay home with the flu?

As fears of a swine flu pandemic spread, President Obama and public health officials are urging Americans to stay home from work and keep their children home from school if they have flu symptoms. But nearly 4 in 10 private sector workers lack even one paid sick day, and many more face disciplinary action if they do call in sick. In a world where diseases mutate and spread across the globe in weeks, Americans need paid sick days to protect our health and our economy

Still Working Well: Washington's Minimum Wage and the Beginnings of Economic Recovery

Critics of Washington's groundbreaking minimum wage law have repeatedly pointed to our state's relatively high minimum wage as a cause of our higher than average unemployment rate. However, the data do not support a causal connection. The United States as a whole and Washington state have continued to lose jobs since the official end of the recession in November 2001, but Washington has lost jobs at a lower rate than the national average

Washington's Estate Tax: Revenue for Higher Education and Early Learning

Washington has had an inheritance or estate tax since 1901. The United States has had an estate tax in place since 1916. Initiative 920, which would have repealed Washington's estate tax in November 2006, was resoundingly defeated by the people, 62% to 38%. Our estate tax raises over $100 million annually, on average