Endorsing and Urging Support for H.R. 5236

Endorsing and Urging Support for H.R. 5236Main Street Employee Ownership Act of 2018

WHEREAS according to U.S. Census Bureau data, in 2014 firms with fewer than 500 workers accounted for 99.7% of the 5.83 million employer firms in the United States, and those with less than 20 workers made up 89.4% of businesses;

WHEREAS over half the working population (120 million individuals) works in a small business;

WHEREAS small businesses have generated over 65% of the net new jobs since 1995;

WHEREAS approximately 543,000 new businesses get started each month, but more employer businesses shut down than start up each month;

WHEREAS investor-owned companies never have to use the goods or the services that the company offers, which can lead to lack of concern by investors about the impact of their businesses on communities;

WHEREAS cooperatives are arranged democratically, with one person one vote, as opposed to stock-owned businesses which are based on one share one vote;

WHEREAS there are more than 39,000 cooperatives doing business here in the U.S.;

WHEREAS cooperatives exist in every sector of the economy, (including, but not limited to, engineering, home care, baking, taxi transportation, and information technology professionals) and are responsible for employing almost 1 million people;

WHEREAS research by Dr. Virginie Perotin of Leeds University has found that worker-owned businesses survive at least as long as other businesses with more stable employment, are more productive than conventional businesses, and executive and non-executive pay differentials are much narrower than other models;

WHEREAS H.R. 5236 was received in the Senate and read twice before being referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on May 9th, 2018;

WHEREAS Senator Maria Cantwell is a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the 21st Legislative District Democrats of Washington State hereby endorse H.R. 5236 – Main Street Employee Ownership Act of 2018;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge Senator Maria Cantwell to encourage with all due haste, within the extent of the law, passage of H.R. 5236 from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray to vocally support and vote in favor of H.R. 5236;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon pro-democracy organizations in Washington State to show support for H.R. 5236, including but not limited to, left-aligned political organizations and unions;

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Washington D.C. offices and Everett offices of both Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray, as well as all unions operating within the 21st Legislative District and the Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee.

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Originated by: Scott Marshall, PCO, 21st LD Democrats

Passed 5/30/2018