Shaun Scott — Said corporations are shedding jobs on their own through relocation and automation.
Shaun Scott — Concluded that the question reflects pro-corporate propaganda and moved to the next question.
Shaun Scott — Explained that policy involves trade-offs and argued that strong public programs and affordable housing attract people and support the tax base.
Shaun Scott — Said affordable public investment attracts people and noted SNAP's economic multiplier effect.
Shaun Scott — Argued that public services help business and that corporate interests are already well represented in Olympia.
Shaun Scott — Responded that the state made $7 billion in cuts in 2025, including to child care, higher education, and pensions.
Shaun Scott — Argued that austerity is dangerous and that revenue is the solution to state problems.
Shaun Scott — Representative Shaun Scott is referenced as the person being addressed in the press conference.
Shaun Scott — Representative Shaun Scott is directly addressed and asked whether Amazon and Microsoft are a net good for Washington State.
HB2089 — Identified as the Wildfire Elevation Support Act; would restore wildfire response funding by ending a tax break for big banks.
HB2089 — The bill is described as closing a loophole for large financial institutions and is referenced as related legislation.
HB2089 — The speaker says HB 2089 funds the wildfire mitigation account and grew out of a discussion with a credit union lobbyist.
Michelle Thomas — Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance was introduced, then identified herself and thanked Representative Scott for his leadership. She testified that progressive revenue is necessary to protect the many people across Washington who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and facing housing insecurity and homelessness.
Christina — Introduced as the next speaker from the Statewide Poverty Action Network.
Christina Zubisky — Introduces herself, but the transcription is cut off and then corrected mid-sentence by the microphone handoff.
Christina Savitsky — Christina Savitsky, a homeless disabled veteran, testifies that proposed cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and housing would harm her and her disabled adult sons. She explains that work requirements are unrealistic for her son with autism, who has struggled to find employment and is waiting for DBR services, and she questions how disability determinations and recertification would be handled given already overburdened case managers. She concludes by urging progressive revenue so disabled people can access needed services and so families like hers can better withstand federal policy changes.
Abraham Flaxman — Abraham Flaxman introduces himself as a University of Washington professor of global health and AAUP chapter vice president speaking in his personal capacity, then argues that Washington needs strong leadership to withstand Trump/MAGA-era pressures. He describes concrete harms at UW, including reduced course offerings in epidemiology, nearly a million dollars in lost federal research funding, disruption to a Census Bureau collaboration on probabilistic record linkage, and uncertainty around Medicaid-related budget impacts. He concludes that these changes are putting hospitals and patients at risk and urges support for UW.
Amy Higopian — Amy Higopian, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington School of Public Health, testifies in support of the Well Washington Fund proposed by Representative Scott. She explains that the fund aligns with the need to strengthen Washington’s health workforce, noting UW Bothell’s role in training professionals who reflect and understand the communities they serve. She also warns that federal grant cuts and Department of Education changes are threatening nursing and public health workforce training, scholarships, and student support.
Nora Kenworthy — A faculty member at the University of Bothell who could not attend because she is teaching.
Fatima Boxwala — Fatima Boxwala is introduced as the next speaker from Tech for Taxes and Balance Our Tax Code, then she introduces herself as the leader of Tech for Taxes, a coalition of Washington State tech workers advocating for progressive revenue.
Mikey Stramskis — Mikey Stramskis was introduced as the next speaker from the Washington Federation of State Employees, then took the floor and identified himself as the organization’s president, thanking Representative Scott.
Menusus Jacobson — Named as a union member who has been tirelessly working on the effort.
Carlina — A reporter from The Center Square asks whether an emergency clause will be attached to make the bill referendum-proof.
Rebecca Saldaña — Rebecca Saldaña is identified as the Senate co-sponsor of the bill and is later praised for doing excellent work shepherding it through the process.
SB5796 — Cited as a similar bill introduced earlier in the session.
Mike Volz — The reporter references Microsoft saying it would move jobs out of the state; the speaker responds about major corporations.
Fatima — A questioner asks Fatima whether she still works at META, referencing that she came to work from META.
Shaun Scott — Opened the press conference and referenced his election to the 43rd Legislative District as the first open socialist in the Legislature in over a century.
Shaun Scott — Continued describing his election and the political context for the press conference.
Shaun Scott — Thanked for leadership on the issue.
Shaun Scott — Shaun Scott is repeatedly referenced as the sponsor and advocate for progressive revenue legislation, including the Well Washington Fund and related funding for UW health programs. Speakers thank him for his bravery, courage, and persistence in promoting the bill, spotlighting the issue, and standing with the group in prior sessions, while urging colleagues to support the legislation.
Shaun Scott — The reporter asks Representative Scott about the timing and rationale for the tax proposal.
Shaun Scott — The question is directed to Representative Scott.
Shaun Scott — Said progressive revenue should be a priority for Democrats and tied the press conference to the impacts of the second Trump presidency.
Shaun Scott — Said a senator did excellent work shepherding the bill and that the federal cuts create urgency for state action.
Shaun Scott — Said he has had encouraging meetings and that revenue must be seriously considered.
Shaun Scott — Explained organizing as bringing in voices not represented inside the process and said the urgency should be felt by lawmakers.
Shaun Scott — Said Washington is not a good place to live, work, raise a family, or go to school, and attributed shortcomings to elected officials who have been there longer.
Shaun Scott — Said criticism is part of the democratic process and offered to take questions on behalf of other speakers.
Shaun Scott — Argued that corporations are already shedding jobs through automation and relocation, and criticized the question as pro-corporate propaganda.