Rossi returns as governor-elect

MOSES LAKE — Saying he wanted to fulfill a promise to lead the whole state, Governor-Elect Dino Rossi continued his post-election tour of Washington meeting with citizens at the ATEC building of Big Bend Community College.

"People say 'I can't believe you are here; the election is over and we already voted.'" Rossi told the crowd of more than 150 people. "I told you I would be governor of the whole state, and here I am."

Rossi touched on outgoing Gov. Gary Locke's proposed tax hike on alcoholic beverages and soda pop, as well as the estimated $1.8 billion hole in the budget for the period 2005-2007.

"We can solve this without new taxes," Rossi said. "It's going to take some hard work and cooperation."

Rossi said he was not worried about both state houses acquiring Democratic majorities this year, adding that he wanted anybody to come and help turn the state around.

"I have been known to work well along philosophical lines and not party lines," he said after the speech.

As he had done during the campaign, Rossi went over the six main points of his "Forward Washington" plan. First, he said he wanted to change the business climate in the state, particularly the tendency to believe that if Boeing and Microsoft are okay, the state is okay.

"There is more to the state than Boeing and Microsoft," he said.

Rossi said he wanted to streamline the health care system, ("it's useless if there is no doctor to go to,") the health insurance system, ("It's rising faster on average than any other state on the coast,") the quality of K-12 education, ("the cornerstone of our education is achievement and accountability,") and the future of the state's most vulnerable citizens ("I will never use them as political pawns").

The sixth point, Rossi said, is the shape of the state's parks network, which he said was the jewel of the state. As governor, Rossi said he intends to restore them to their past glory.

Rossi, a former Republican state senator, was declared governor-elect by Secretary of State Sam Reed weeks after the election. The final outcome is still in doubt as validity of hundreds of votes from King County is being disputed from both sides.

Rossi said he wants to include a seventh point to his plan.

"It's called 'election reform,'" he said, eliciting cheers from the audience.

As part of election reform, Rossi said he wanted more certainty in outcomes. Only two states, he said, allow absentee ballots to be mailed in the day of the election, Washington and Alaska.

Regarding the situation in King County, he said that another move would be to keep people from changing the rules in the middle of an election.

"That can't work," he said. "People need to have confidence in the election (system)."