OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire formally began her second term Wednesday by laying out a course for guiding the state, now facing a $6 billion deficit, to a future filled with opportunity.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will get through these hard times and we will open the door to a better, brighter day,” she said.
In her second inaugural address, Gregoire focused on ways of reforming government and restoring hope to those suffering most from the effects of the recession.
She called on lawmakers to act swiftly on proposals to curb spending, create jobs and help families keep their homes.
Gregoire also made an impassioned plea to those in the legislative chambers and around the state to help meet the basic needs of their neighbors by volunteering in their communities and donating to food banks.
“This is our time, a time like no other,” she said. “Our time to show courage, our time to reach across the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, to help our people, our time for all to light the lamp of generosity.”
Gregoire’s speech lasted a half-hour and came under much different circumstances than her first inaugural address.
Four years ago, she spoke to a chamber with Republicans disputing her victory and unwilling to applaud many comments.
On Wednesday, Republicans clapped as she outlined steps for dealing with the fiscal malaise and stood to applaud her call for public service.
“What I appreciated most was her call for Washingtonians to help Washingtonians,” said Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton. “I thought that portion of the speech was wonderfully inspirational.”
Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, called it a “very good speech.”
But Bailey noted that calls for government belt-tightening come after Gregoire and the Democratic majority capped the last four years with record spending.
“We do need to change the way we do business,” Bailey said. “I hope everybody is committed to the idea that we must make this crisis work for us.”
Gregoire didn’t assign any responsibility to past behaviors for the gaping — and growing — $6 billion hole in the state budget. Rather, she laid the blame solely on the mortgage and lending crisis and subsequent national downturn in the economy.
And she’s counting on the federal government and Democratic President-elect Barack Obama to help.
For now, Gregoire plans to plug the state’s budget hole with federal dollars along withtransfers from state accounts and nearly $3.6 billion in cuts.
Some Democrats are upset with her decision to carve money from education, human service and health care programs. She offered a response Wednesday.
“This budget contains as much care and compassion as we could muster,” she said. “It still hurts real people, and with each cut I chose, I saw their faces. I don’t like this budget, but I proposed it for one simple reason — I must.”
Gregoire outlined several ideas to get the state’s economy going forward.
She described a Washington Jobs Now initiative that aims to create 20,000 jobs in the next two years by spending $1 billion to build roads, schools and energy-related industries. Details are expected to be released today.
She also wants to increase benefits for unemployed workers, provide a temporary tax cut for businesses, expand eligibility for food stamps and find ways to give homeowners who face foreclosure more time to resolve their problems.
On reforming government, she wants to get rid of some of the state’s 470 boards and commissions. She also wants to eliminate duplication of jobs among agencies.
“For instance, we have three agencies managing natural resources, each with its own scientist standing in the same Washington stream,” she said.
Republicans reserved comment until they can read the proposals. They said they’re concerned she may rely too much on public money rather than private sector ingenuity.
“We can’t dig our way out of a budget deficit by spending tax dollars to increase government jobs,” said Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, who delivered the official Republican Party response to the speech.
“Solving our budget crisis and moving us forward toward a better economy comes down to setting priorities,” he said, “and forcing the state to live within its means, now and in the future.”
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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