Public Policy

Burst for Prosperity utilizes research as well as evidence from tested models to influence public policy at the state and federal levels. This advocacy method helps Burst for Prosperity pursue lasting systems change that addresses issues of poverty through economic development. The policy agenda includes initiatives in each of our three strategic areas of Career Pathways, Asset Development, and Microenterprise.

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  Career Pathways Policy

  Burst for Prosperity seeks to shift the focus of the public assistance system from simply job placement to an approach that emphasizes permanent solutions to poverty.

  At the state level, Burst for Prosperity collaborates with other advocacy agencies and the state legislature to create a safety net reform agenda focused on helping individuals achieve lasting economic independence. In 2009, Burst for Prosperity was instrumental in the passage of legislation (HB 2071) that creates better access to education and training opportunities for families on welfare. In 2010, they played a critical role in advancing legislation (HB 3141) that shifts the intent of the WorkFirst program to focus on moving parents into sustainable family-wage jobs that lead to self-sufficiency. In 2011, Burst for Prosperity played a central role in working on policy focused on expanding the percentage of households living in the middle-income bracket, and out of poverty permanently. The focus on 2011 will utilize the research revealed in the Burst for Prosperity White Paper series to catalyze discussion for systemic change in the state public assistance systems.

  At the federal level, staff is working with lawmakers and community partners to include evidence-based practice models, such as innovative educational pathways and asset development, in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization process.

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  Asset Development Policy

  As chair of the policy committee of the statewide Washington Asset Building Coalition, the Burst for Prosperity initiative helped create a policy agenda with the statewide coalition that promotes asset development as a strategy to help individuals build wealth and move permanently out of poverty. They support retaining funding for the Family Prosperity Act, which assists low-income families with asset building through grants, local coalitions, and technical assistance.

  In 2011, Burst for Prosperity played an instrumental role in the development and passage of allowing financial institutions to reward saving for low and moderate-income families through prize-linked savings programs (SB 5232). Burst for Prosperity also promoted the asset building idea of ridding private transfer fees (SB 5115), a new predatory scheme meant to turn a profit at the expense of unsuspecting homeowners. It buries a covenant in legal documents when a property is developed, requiring that for the next 99 years, a percentage of the sales price of the property—usually 1 percent—be directed to a designated third party – resulting in homeowners losing home equity -- and being forced to pay a percentage of their home sale price to an outside party that holds no ownership interest in the property.

  Burst for Prosperity was successful in working with coalition partners to have both SB 5232 and SB 5115 signed into law, and the focus of the 2011 interim will continue to promote the policy options presented in the Prosperity Blueprint, such as Child Savings Accounts and College Savings Incentives.

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  Microenterprise Policy

  As a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA), Burst for Prosperity supports the development of a policy agenda that promotes self-employment as a strategy to move individuals out of poverty. As part of this effort, Burst for Prosperity is collaborating with active WSMA members across the state to promote increased emphasis on self-employment as an effective poverty reduction tool. Burst for Prosperity is also collaborating with Washington State's two U.S. Senators to promote the Economic Independence Initiative to improve the resettlement process for immigrants and refugees.

  In 2011, Burst for Prosperity will develop a White Paper on Microenterprise to catalyze a discussion of a self-employment pathway as a viable option for low and moderate-income families, as exhibited by Burst for Prosperity's programmatic work.