‘The strongest state in the nation’: Gov. Jay Inslee delivers State of the State address

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 11th State of the State address Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the state Capitol building in Olympia.

“I’m happy to report we have been, we are, and we will always be the strongest state in the nation,” Inslee said. “In fact, the state of our state is stronger than ever. For over a decade, we’ve advanced nation-leading policies to support working families, grown our economy, and acted boldly to protect our state’s iconic spaces and salmon. We’ve advanced equity; built more housing; fought for a woman’s right to choose; and ushered in a clean energy economy.”

Inslee expanded on things he believes have improved in the state since taking office, such as how the wages in Washington have grown by 39% since he took office in 2013. In fact, the state minimum wage has increased from $9.19 in 2013 to $16.28 in 2024.

He also noted the increase in state gross domestic product from $528 billion in 2013 to $768 billion today.

The governor said the state will continue to fight climate change and pollution, noting that “any delay would be a betrayal of our children’s future.”

In December, the governor announced his legislative priorities for this year, including a proposal for $70.9 billion for the 2024 supplemental budget to invest in big-ticket items such as expanding behavioral health resources, combating the opioid and fentanyl crisis, investing in housing and homelessness solutions, and supporting school workers.

Inslee touched on those proposals again Jan. 9.

“The Climate Commitment Act is letting us invest in work that reduces pollution and creates good-paying jobs. …Now we have more we can give back to our communities,” said Inslee, before describing a proposal to provide a one-time $200 utility bill credit for nearly 2 million low- and moderate-income residents.

Additionally, he referenced a piece of legislation this year meant to hold oil companies accountable by requiring more transparency in gas prices.

The governor then talked about a proposal to increase the pay for 32,000 paraeducators in the state by $3 per hour, before talking about the need for more housing in Washington. Last year, the Legislature allocated $1 billion for new housing, and Inslee and other lawmakers have agreed that legislators should do more this session to increase the housing supply in the state.

In 2023, a Criminal Justice Training Center in Pasco was opened to allow Eastern Washington law enforcement recruits an opportunity to train closer to home, something Inslee noted was providing “the best training in the country.”

Inslee said he would also like to see more law enforcement officers hired to combat organized retail theft and drug trafficking, noting that his proposed budget includes more funding for law enforcement.

In addition, the governor said he is proposing $64 million to tackle the fentanyl and opioid crisis. That funding will go towards education, community health hubs, and treatment access, he said.

Inslee closed out by talking about what he sees as “two grave threats” in the U.S. and the state.

“One threat is to the basic tenants and blessings of democracy,” he said. “The other is the ongoing assault on a woman’s right of choice.”

He said he believes most of the lawmakers in the room were “committed to protecting that right,” but noted none of the current lawmakers will be in their seats forever. He called on lawmakers again to enshrine reproductive protections in the state constitution this session, a proposal that did not get passed last year.

Although Inslee and other Democrats have noted their optimism for this session, Republican lawmakers painted a different picture at a news conference following the State of the State.

“The news is like a running indictment of the majority’s failed policies,” said Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco.

Torres said one of the main priorities that need to be addressed is public safety.

She pointed to the uptick in overdose deaths in the state as well as violent crimes, retail theft, and human trafficking . She said she believes rising crime can be blamed on the majority party in the state, specifically referencing the controversial police pursuit law passed in 2021 and later modified in 2023.

Additionally, affordability needs to be addressed, Torres said.

The Senator noted high gas prices in the state, referring to the CCA as “the governor’s cap-and-tax scheme” and said that high gas prices harm low-income families, especially the ones in rural areas.

“Record homelessness, high fuel costs and increasing food insecurity are hurting working class families,” said Torres.

Reducing regulations in housing would help add to the housing supply, she said.

Torres also added that “state government is failing our youth,” before noting learning loss, access to hard drugs and lack of mental health support for students in Washington. She said she believes adding funding for tutoring would help students benefit.

She also added that Republicans have also fought for years for more special education funding “because the kids receiving those services need and deserve our help.”

“We must set aside politics and the influence of special interests to do what is right for the health, safety and happiness of children around our state,” Torres said.

Inslee, who has one more year in his third term as a governor, will not run for reelection in 2024.

The Rev. Dee Eisenhauer, a clergywoman for the United Church of Christ, delivered the invocation at the State of the State. Shalah “Rose” McCarthy, a Taíno artist from Anchorage, and Bobby Ray, a multi-instrumentalist and singer, sang the National Anthem.

The 60-day 2024 legislative session ends on March 7.