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Gov. Jay Inslee today delivered his 2018 State of the State address, a speech that highlighted Washington’s strong economy and best-in-the-nation business climate saying “our economy is strong, our future is bright, but there are always new heights to reach, new challenges to overcome and persistent wrongs to right.”
Inslee called on legislators to “forge a prosperous path for the next generation.” He laid out a series of measures he hopes legislators will act on in the 60-day session:
- fund the final step of McCleary in time for the 2018–19 school year;
- expand youth apprenticeship opportunities and career-connected learning;
- approve an overdue capital budget necessary to fund hundreds of crucial projects related to school construction, housing, mental health and more;
- expand access to democracy by passing voter rights and registration bills;
- protect net neutrality;
- expand women’s health care rights;
- ensure Dreamers’ abilities to pay for college are not damaged by Congress’ refusal to renew their deferred-action status;
- ban bump stocks, close the background-check loophole on semi-automatic rifles and require safe storage of firearms;
- and put an end to the state’s death penalty.
The governor then turned his attention to an urgent crisis he says the Legislature has yet to tackle — climate change.
Read more on the governor Medium page.