WA Governor Gregoire Responds to Rossi Criticism
Spokane Obama Rally Features Cantwell, Marr, and NM Gov Richardson
Oct 9, 2008
Democratic governor Gregoire narrowly won election in 2004 in a hotly contested race with Senator Dino Rossi. Winning by a narrow margin triggering mandatory recounts and legal actions garnering national media attention for the state governor’s race, democratic incumbent Gregoire focused on widening her win in 2008.
Governor Christine Gregoire’s Response to Dino Rossi’s Political Attack Ads
Recent attack ads by Republican challenger Dino Rossi have stated that Washington State has lost track of hundreds of sex predators on Governor Gregoire’s watch. The TV spots pander to parental fears using statistics that do not reflect any lapse on the part of Governor Gregoire or law enforcement.
Governor Gregoire stated that such dirty politics were an insult to Washington State law enforcement agencies. She pointed out that the Washington State Patrol just won a national award for efficacy. The sad reality is that during any Governor’s term, numerous sex offenders fail to report to probation officers and move without providing new addresses. Law enforcement makes every effort to get these defenders back in the system; to misuse the statistics and link them to a governor’s safety and security record is questionable.
Another Rossi campaign television advertisement states that Gregoire’s management has resulted in a $3.2 billion dollar state deficit. Unfortunately, a weak national economy and failing financial institutions affect state budgets. Gregoire said that she is quite capable of cutting a budget in difficult economic times, but stress that she is proud of a record of state investment in the new green energy economy and educational initiatives attracting employers to Washington State.
Gregoire stated that Forbes magazine recently listed Washington as third in the nation both for doing business and green policies. While such achievements may seem mutually exclusive, Washington remains a desirable place to start a company even while leading the way on green energy policies.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Touts Gregoire’s Leadership and Investment in Green Energy
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the experience candidate of the 2008 presidential primary, applauded Gregoire for her authorship of the Western Climate Initiative, a Kyoto-like agreement between 7 US states and 4 Canadian provinces to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in alternative energy. Washington is fifth in the nation for wind power, recently opened a large solar panel manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, and has a new biodiesel production plant in Hoquiam.
Governor Gregoire stressed her commitment to ensuring that a transition from a foreign oil energy economy did not become a dependency on foreign food crops. Gregoire mentioned state university research focused on turning waste products into fuel, addressing concerns that biofuel development is a major culprit in the global rise of staple food prices.
Senators Maria Cantwell, Chris Marr, and Lisa Brown- Appearances Supporting Obama and Gregoire
Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell, State Senators Chris Marr and Lisa Brown took to the podium focusing on the need for national policy change. Cantwell emphasized President Bush’s failings and the weak national economy on a day when the Dow Jones dove towards 8500 points. Cantwell also drew sharp distinctions between Gregoire and Rossi on minimum wage, health care, and education. Senators Chris Marr and Lisa Brown also concentrated on the Gregoire-Rossi race while echoing Obama’s platform of change.
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