‘To Washington, I bid you fair winds and following seas’

OLYMPIA — In his final State of the State address delivered before a joint session of the Washington Legislature on Jan. 12, Governor Jay Inslee reflected on his 12 years in office and emphasized the achievements and challenges that lie ahead for Washington state.  

Addressing an audience that included state officials, justices of the state Supreme Court, tribal leaders and members of the Consular Corps, Inslee began by expressing pride in the progress made during his tenure. Those who want to watch the whole speech may visit bit.ly/4jcfo9f.

"It was my life’s honor to be elected governor three times to work for the people of Washington," Inslee said. "This is a place that means everything to me and (my wife) Trudi and man, I do love this state." 

Accomplishments 

Highlighting legislative accomplishments, Inslee pointed to advances in early childhood education, climate policy and health care.  

“We used to be a state that didn’t fund early childhood education,” he said, acknowledging the efforts of advocates like late Rep. June Leonard who worked to bring about change. “Thanks to years of work by undaunted individuals who showed up session after session, all of these things came to pass eventually.” 

Inslee said Washington, prior to his leadership, did not have paid family leave or public health strategies to end youth homelessness. He also talked about how he signed into law the capital gains tax and an assault weapons ban. He also said Washington now has one of the best college financial aid programs.  

“I've held three terms as governor, and in this moment, our moment, I see a state that is evergreen and ever going forward. To the new leaders here today, I say this: you will inevitably face frustration,” Inslee said. “You will struggle with the tyranny of the status quo. Do not lose patience. Do not trade in courage for comfort. Never forget that Martin Luther King said, The moral arc of the universe bends slowly but steadily towards justice – if we bend it.” 

King’s exact quote is, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” 

Inslee said the state passed two large transportation funding packages, helping to employ thousands of people and expand transportation in the Evergreen State.  

“There's more work to do, of course, but these accomplishments I believe, should give us full confidence for the next steps,” Inslee said. “We keep moving forward. We pull together, because we are the state of Washington. We came together through setbacks and calamity as well.” 

Future issues 

Inslee asked the Washington Legislature to maintain momentum on critical issues, pointing to housing, mental health services and education.  

“Our regressive tax system is unfair to most working families and jeopardizes our continued progress on the systems that Washingtonians depend on,” he said.  

He cautioned lawmakers against making deep budget cuts, saying, “Abstract numerical cuts actually mean concrete, personal pain.” 

Inslee praised the state's response to crises, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He then asked for the state to have continued vigilance in protecting public health while emphasizing the need for investment in behavioral health and youth services. Then, Inslee reiterated the importance of community support and collective responsibility in the face of challenges.  

“We don’t leave anybody behind,” he said. “We follow the science, and we work together to make extremely difficult decisions.”  

He specifically acknowledged the increasing demand for mental health services and called for sustained investment in these areas, recognizing the sacrifices made by public servants and the support staff in schools and health services. 

Environment  

In discussing the state's environmental trajectory, Inslee emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change.  

"There’s nearly 100% consensus in the scientific community that climate change is happening and that it’s human-caused," he said. “That's why I'm so heartened that we have acted since we passed the Climate Commitment Act, a problem statement has only grown with increasing fires and heat domes, increasing rainstorms and flooding, increasing acidification of our beloved Puget Sound, loss of glacial ice on Mount Rainier. The need for the programs funded by CCA will only continue to increase. It's called the Climate Commitment Act for a reason – I think we ought to honor that commitment.” 

As he concluded his address, Inslee encouraged legislators to uphold Washington's progressive values, underscoring the need to protect the rights and welfare of all residents. 

"This legislature has a clear mandate to continue its progress in other areas, including climate," he said. "Washingtonians have your back in this fight." 

Governor-elect Ferguson 

Inslee’s tenure as governor will come to an end with the transition to Governor-elect Bob Ferguson. He took a moment to commend Ferguson’s election. 

“Bob Ferguson, a guy who knows about defending Washingtonians, will become Washington's 24th governor tomorrow,” Inslee said. “In November, Washington voters saw two different visions for the future of our state, and they chose to continue the path of progress. Congratulations, Bob, best of luck.”  

    Governor Jay Inslee speaks at the Twelve groundbreaking in Moses Lake. Inslee gave his final State of the State address at a joint session of the Washington Legislature Tuesday, discussing his accomplishments and concerns for the future of Washington.