Sen. Bob Hasegawa has introduced nine state bank bills since 2009, as well as numerous budget provisos to study or implement a state bank. His current proposal would create the Washington Investment Trust which would handle all state and local tax revenues and use the interest on the revenues to capitalize a state bank that can leverage those funds for the benefit of Washingtonians.   Sen. Hasegawa will provide an update on the State Bank proposal, where it’s at and how it could recapture control of what happens to our state taxes.

Cities and states put their money in Wall Street banks which leverage those public funds to create private profit.  Cities and states have the option of keeping their public dollars and leveraging them for their own community needs through a state or public bank.

Public Banks:

1. Take the deposits of local government funds (city or state taxes, fees, etc.).
2. Are required to benefit the public by serving local community needs.
3. Can save state and local governments millions or even billions of dollars, by cutting out middlemen and private shareholders, eliminating fees, and financing projects at lower interest rates.
4. Reinvest bank profits into the community, providing a new source of income for cities and states and a source of funding for projects such as infrastructure, renewable energy and affordable housing.
5. Are run not by politicians, but by qualified bankers serving a public mission.
6. Provide accountability and transparency to the public for bank decisions.
7. Avoid the risks of Wall Street’s speculative gambling.
8. Create new jobs and spur economic growth by supporting local small businesses.
9. Partner with and support rather than competing with local community banks.
10. Can lend during times of stress and crisis, helping to sustain a healthy local economy.

Speaker:  Senator  Bob Hasegawa, 66, is a lifelong resident of Seattle’s Beacon Hill.  He previously served in the Washington State House of Representatives, 2005-2012, before joining the Senate in 2013.  He is retired from the Teamsters Union where he was a member and union leader for over 32 years.

Bob believes in lifelong learning. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1970 and went on to the University of Washington, where he studied physics. He later graduated from Antioch University Seattle with dual areas of concentration in Labor Relations and Organizational and Social Change. He holds an AA degree in Labor Studies that he earned at Shoreline Community College, studied information technology at Seattle Central Community College, and is a seasoned professional commercial truck driver, certified transit operator, and journey-level operating engineer (heavy construction equipment operator). Bob also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.