Washington State Governor Jay Inslee presented his State-of-the-State address before the Legislature on Tuesday, outlining his priorities for the session.
During the Governor’s remarks, he highlighted the need for public safety. WR supports his budget proposal to fund the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force. Inslee’s budget included $2.265 million of the $3 million the AG recommended for the Task Force. Inslee also called for aggressive bipartisan spending on housing, homelessness, behavioral health, and education. He emphasized housing, education, and the environment and ended his remarks on the intensely partisan issues surrounding gun control and abortion rights.
Rep. Peter Abbarno (R-20) provided the Republican response and highlighted issues surrounding public safety and the need for the Legislature to act swiftly to allow law enforcement to pursue criminals safely. He also agreed that the housing crisis and homelessness had worsened significantly in the past decade during Inslee’s past terms as Governor.
