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Several weeks ago, I took the completely unsurprising step of endorsing Jay Inslee for governor.

I’m a Democrat; he’s a Democrat; no surprise.  But I’ve worked well with Rob McKenna over the years, like him personally… and he’s the smartest guy in most (political) rooms.  So a few folks were surprised (and/or annoyed) that I didn’t break from my party affiliation.

On Saturday, though, faced with another dirty, smoggy day in Jakarta, I was reminded why I’d endorsed Jay, who I don’t know very well except as a champion of the environment.  I had given Jay my endorsement after comparing the position papers on energy and the environment prepared for – and approved by — both candidates.

The policy papers are superficial, to be sure, but it’s what we have to represent the candidate’s perspectives.

In truth, I get irritated with the environmental groups for being too granular and for being insufferably condescending to anyone who questions their strategies (which are sometimes completely lacking in any ROI).   And their tendency to condescension does not endear them to people trying to eke a living from the land or to comply with multiple opaque DOE regulations. So I found myself gritting my teeth a little while reading Jay’s position paper.

But at least the environmentalists’ policy vision has a long term goal that benefits our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, not just today’s capital markets.  The strategies may not yet quite clear, but the goals are undeniably good.

The position paper prepared for Rob’s campaign reflected the business-side argument that we don’t really need renewable energy and that it just burdens the state’s utilities and businesses. But then, ironically, the paper goes on to boast of the cheap, clean power created by the ever-loathed I-937 as a new business magnet!  I agree that jobs are important, but I didn’t see any acknowledgement in this position paper of the sacrifice necessary to ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.  The focus is entirely on the near term.

On Saturday morning, as I faced the smutty haze covering this otherwise wonderful city, I thought about the genesis of environmental responsibility and stewardship in the US, why our air is clear, our water clean.  It was President Richard Nixon who established the EPA; Bill Ruckelshaus, another Republican, was its first administrator.  Why, I thought, can’t today’s Republicans build on that legacy?

In the end, I can argue the Governor’s race for or against either candidate.  And it doesn’t give me any pleasure to challenge my friend, Rob, on this issue during a campaign.  But my heart and brain tells me that ignoring environmental issues, ducking the hard choices that will transform energy for future generations in favor of short-term gain, is not an option.  Capital markets and economic interests in general are driven by profit and deny externalities in principle. It’s our social and moral obligation, I believe, to constrain and regulate capital markets for the greater good, and that includes our grandchildren’s air and water quality.

If we can’t get business and utility interests to see the importance of moving forward on GHG reduction, on maintaining clean air and water, on actually getting “beyond petroleum”, then we’ll just have to continue to support the environmental community’s work in dragging them into that clean, renewable-energy future. Kicking and screaming, if necessary.  And if that’s picking winners and losers, a sound bite for Republicans that belies the complicated analysis behind it, then I’m all for it.

And that’s why I endorsed Jay Inslee.

Blame it on the Jakarta smog … and Richard Nixon.

Deb Eddy
State Representative, 48th District

Election years always feature a lot of talk about change. Most of it is just that — talk.

So who’s really going to change Olympia? Let’s look at the facts.

Rob McKenna has been a part of Olympia for nearly a decade.

He lobbied for his own pay raise.

He took over $180,000 of free trips as Attorney General, including Disneyland.

And McKenna tried to increase is own office budget six straight times.

On the other side, we have Jay Inslee.  He’s never been afraid to buck his own party.  He voted against the Iraq War and against the Wall Street Bailout.

Now, Inslee has plans for more fiscal responsibility in Olympia and more accountability in our schools.

And Inslee’s proposed an innovative way forward to make Washington the leader in the clean energy jobs of the future.

Jay Inslee.  He’s the change we need.

There is a lot at stake in the upcoming election, both nationally and for our state. The collapse of Wall Street five years ago affected us all in ways we are still grappling with. On a personal level, millions of families and workers saw their retirement account balances plummet, were forced out of their homes or lost a job that has yet to return.

The impacts for state and local governments have been equally damaging and long-lasting. Huge job losses, hits to the housing market and low spending have meant less revenue for everything from parks to teachers. The biggest challenge for our next governor will be helping create jobs for the nearly 300,000 people who are still out of work. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s a challenge that I know one of the candidates for governor will take on – Jay Inslee.

I wasn’t quick to make a choice in this race. Like most voters, I wanted to fully understand the ideas and vision of each candidate before making a decision. There are many issues the next governor is going to have to take on including education reforms and funding and implementation of important health care reforms. But for me it is the funding for new revenue for a statewide transportation package that holds the most interest.

As transportation chair I know that we must take care of our existing infrastructure as well as continue to build new projects to connect our cities and ports to the world.  When it comes to jobs, these are critical not just for construction jobs but for keeping and attracting new business to our state. These are heavy lifts that will require someone who can work across party lines but take a hard stand when necessary. They also ensure that we have a strong economy and maintain the optimistic outlook for our future that comes with it.

The issue of jobs and economic growth isn’t a partisan issue, but it is one in which there are significant differences between the candidates. Jay has spent a decade working with industries that make up the strong core of our state’s economy – aerospace, agriculture and IT. Across the state and in my district he will work in a bi-partisan way to ensure we can connect and maintain these industries. But he also sees where we have room to grow – from increased contracting with the military to biotech and, of course, clean energy.

It’s true that onerous regulations and burdensome taxes can dampen economic growth, but deregulation and low taxes aren’t the only two keys to unleashing jobs. We know that by looking at states like Louisiana and Mississippi. We also know that a core of strong industries is the foundation for a strong economy. It means more people taking their clothes to the dry cleaner, grabbing lunch at the local deli and taking their family to a movie on the weekend.

I’ve read Jay’s jobs plan, and I’ve heard him speak about a vision that is inspiring backed up by details that are compelling. Jay’s vision and his ideas are exactly what we need to move our state forward. I also feel confident that, because of his time living in Yakima and representing Central Washington, that on issues like education and transportation, he can be a uniting force for our state and promote reforms and changes that help families and businesses all across our state. For this reason I look forward to working side by side with Jay on these important issues.

I’m proud to be supporting Jay Inslee for governor and his vision for building a working Washington.

Judy Clibborn
State Representative of the 41st District

Last week, Jay released an 11-point platform to improve the health care system in Washington that demonstrates his commitment to improving the health of all Washington citizens and his understanding of the role the health care industry will play in our state’s economic recovery.

Improving access and quality of health care to Washington citizens has real world implications that we all see in our daily lives. In the last few years, my family here in Washington has lost several extraordinary people to cancer. After witnessing firsthand the emotional and financial toll that battling a serious disease has on an individual and their family, I can tell you that Washington needs affordable, reliable, and respectful health care for all, not just the ones who can afford top-rate coverage.

Jay Inslee understands that, and I am confident that his health care plan will continue and improve the programs that have had a lasting effect not only on my family, but all of our families during times of health crisis.

One of the best parts of Jay’s plan is that he doesn’t shy away from recognizing that Washington should fully implement the Affordable Care Act. The benefits of this monumental legislation include ending insurance discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions, creating a state health care exchange to keep health care affordable, and continuing to improve in-home care for sick, elderly, and disabled Washingtonians.

As a woman, Jay’s support of the Affordable Care Act also makes sense to me because without it, insurance companies could keep charging me more for coverage just because of my sex.  Remember: his opponent sued to repeal the entire law.

We need Jay because Jay stands up for us, for our health, for our jobs, and for our quality of life. Jay stands up for Washington and we need to stand up for him.

–Meredith Loken

Hi.  I am Dr. Deborah Oyer and I run Aurora Medical Services, a women’s health clinic in Seattle.  I am enthusiastically supporting Jay Inslee for governor.

Jay is strongly pro-choice and he has the record to prove it.  He believes in readily accessible health care for all residents of the state, rich or poor, whether it is care for heart disease or for family planning.  Jay’s opponent, Rob McKenna, legally challenged national efforts to make health care accessible to all Americans and supports restrictions on abortion rights.  The contrast is stark; we must unite behind Jay Inslee for governor of Washington.

Currently Washington State is touted as the best state in which to get reproductive health care.  The state laws are heavily in favor of women’s rights.   Our state trusts women, along with their health care providers, to make the right decisions for themselves.  As a result we have no arduous informed consent laws, waiting periods or parental notification laws. We fund contraceptive services for low-income women.  Our voters and politicians should be commended for the current availability of services.  Jay strongly supports Washington’s leadership role on reproductive rights.

However, if Jay does not win as governor this fall we cannot expect to maintain the current level of broad accessibility and excellent care.  Jay’s opponent supports many more barriers to reproductive health care than currently exist in Washington State.  Each time politicians vote for barriers to care, they are in essence saying that they don’t trust women to make their own choices.  As a woman, I want a governor who believes women are smart enough to make their own decisions.  That candidate is Jay Inslee.

We must not take our state’s reproductive rights for granted. Four years ago President Obama selected two very pro-choice governors to join his cabinet. These two governors were replaced by politicians who do not favor reproductive justice for women.  There has been an enormous shift in both states towards more barriers and fewer freedoms for pregnant women.  I fear that could happen here if Jay Inslee does not become our next governor.

Jay Inslee will fight to guarantee that all citizens of Washington continue to have access to a full range of reproductive services, and to preserve funding for such services.  It is essential that our community takes a strong stand in this race.  Jay Inslee shares our values, while Republican Rob McKenna’s policies would turn back the clock on reproductive rights.

Please vote for Jay Inslee for governor.  He is the only pro-choice candidate in this race.

– Dr. Deborah Oyer

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