As you know from the LWVWA study on Journalism and its importance in a democracy, a bill has been introduced in Olympia that would support journalism — SB 5400 — to support local news outlets by assessing a nominal fee on search engines and social media companies — and we NEED IT OUT of the Senate Ways & Means committee and onto the floor for a vote … or to get it in the state budget. SB 5400 is what as known as “Necessary for Implementing the Budget.” That is because it raises its own revenue. It does not need to get out of committee or a particular house by any deadlines or cut-off dates because it can be added to the budget even as last as the end of the session (because it does not take money out of the General Fund.)

There’s a hearing on this bill at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 and we need you to contact Senator Warnick, a member of the Ways and Means Committee before that time. Please contact Senator Warnick in Olympia ASAP – 360-786-7624 Here are some talking points to mention (choose any):

• Thank you for agreeing to talk with me about SB 5400. Please know that I/we appreciate the monumental task you and your colleagues face as you work to approve a state budget that will maintain state services without raising taxes. Your thoughtful consideration is valued.
• EMPHASIZE THIS: SB 5400 is critical because local journalism is vital to our democracy. It’s local news –not national or social media — that informs us about the issues that most directly impact us all – our children’s education, our family’s safety and health, and the decisions of elected officials.
• At its core, SB 5400 supports local journalism, which, in turn, supports healthier communities, encourages more civic engagement and connections, and results in less polarization and a stronger democracy.
• This bill would do all that with no added expenses to the state budget.
• This is why I am contacting you today — to ask you how I/we can help – what I/we can do – to move the bill forward to the floor for broader consideration OR add plans for it to the Senate budget that we understand you will be presenting in the next two weeks or so.
• SB 5400 would create the Washington Local News Sustainability Program and generate about $20 million annually from a surcharge of 1.22 percent on the gross income of for-profit social media platforms and search engines.
• I know this to be a fact: These tech companies have contributed to the decline of local media and reap significant benefits from local news reporting without paying for it. OPTIONAL: A recent study by professors at Columbia University and the University of Houston, in fact, reported Google owes publishers $10 billion to $12 billion annually and Facebook $1.9 billion for their impact on local news outlets.
• Funds generated from this surcharge would be distributed, via grants, to local news outlets throughout the state specifically for hiring local news reporters.
• The surcharge monies collected could only be spent after collection.
• Without local news, we don’t know about the problems or the opportunities around us and how we can take action.
• Again, I am contacting you to learn how I can help move SB 5400 along and out of committee for broader consideration OR add plans for it in the state budget.

More talking points here.

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