Thestranger.com: The Choice Is Clear for Washington Democrats: Pass Progressive Taxes or Perpetuate a Racist Tax Code

In their analysis of a new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the Budget and Policy Center showed that the effective state and local tax rate for Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Pacific Islanders is between half a point and one point higher than it is for white people. “While these differences may seem small, they can amount to hundreds of dollars per year that would otherwise be spent on meeting basic necessities, like food, child care, and transportation,” the analysts wrote.

In essence, our state’s tax code makes rich white people richer, and it makes Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Pacific Islanders poorer. That’s what institutional racism looks like, and if you live here and you’re not screaming at your representatives to back progressive taxation, then you’re perpetuating the problem. Read more