Jay Inslee kicks off bid for governor
MIKE BAKER; The Associated Press
U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee said Monday he wants to serve as Washington’s governor so he can overhaul the state’s economy by harnessing innovation and aspiring to develop new technologies.
The Bainbridge Island Democrat said the state hasn’t done enough to build research centers that could be hubs for future jobs, and suggested using state pension funds to invest in start-up companies.
He said he understands the state workforce because he’s done a range of jobs – from driving bulldozers, to practicing law to teaching community college classes.
“It is time to build a working Washington,” said Inslee, who has spent more than a decade in Congress representing a district that covers the northern suburbs of Seattle.
“If we are going to do this, we need a leader who truly understands the economic challenges of the people of the state of Washington.”
Inslee also suggested that state government can be streamlined. Without providing specifics, he said he’d like to see a review of government operations to find out what can be improved.
Inslee said he was open to raising tax revenues by ending a deduction for out-of-state banks.
Inslee launched his campaign from a biotech firm in Seattle that focuses on alternative energy – an issue he has championed for years in Congress. He planned to campaign today in Tacoma, Vancouver and Spokane.
One of Inslee’s chief ideas to spur job growth was to open up resources for start-up companies that are starved for cash. He suggested using a small amount of state pension money to support these businesses and grow new industries.
He declined to say how much money he would commit to such a program.
Inslee also said he could reform the economy by establishing high-tech clusters that can partner research institutions with private industry.
Inslee staked out a moderate position on an issues that could join him on the ballot in 2012: marijuana.
He said he wasn’t ready to support the idea of decriminalization of marijuana, although he’d like to see law enforcement prioritize away from it and the federal level change to ensure the state’s medical marijuana a law isn’t threatened.
