Issue Position: Working Families

Issue Position

As we carefully and prudently reopen our state and country, we need to continue to ensure that workers are getting the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy. No doubt we are going to have to make more adjustments in the wake of this crisis. I've been a champion of efforts like Career Connect that identifies skills needed in the job force and links tens of thousands of students to apprenticeships and on-the-job training, and in my work with Senator Murray I helped develop what became a national model for military transition from service to jobs at home. I also helped pass into law one of the most substantial reductions in college tuition in the country, paid for by big companies like Amazon and Microsoft who benefit from the well-educated workforce our public schools produce.

I also believe that expanding health care coverage and lowering medical and prescription drug costs will help promote income growth and stabilize our economy, since it is often unforeseen health care events that can bankrupt struggling families. Making child care more accessible and affordable, ending the gender pay gap, raising the minimum wage and reinstating overtime rules, and enforcing and strengthening protections for organized labor that allow strong unions to flourish and effectively negotiate for workers -- these are all important steps in chipping away at income inequality, ensuring the economic security of our families and promoting dignity and pride in the work we produce.

I'm very proud to have earned a 100% rating in the legislature from the Washington State Labor Council while helping guide the state to its ranking as one of the top economies in the country, proving that protecting and providing for our work force goes hand in hand with a strong economy.

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