Chris Gregoire > Help Fight the Attacks

State Income Tax • Gaming Compact • Public Safety • Foster Care • Transportation

State Income Tax

Truth: Governor Chris Gregoire’s position is clear – she opposes a state income tax. Just look at the record:

Yakima Herald-Republic, 08/14/2008: "State income tax? Rossi's attempt to tar Gregoire is spurious" (Read more)
Online Town Hall Meeting, 04/08/2008: “You know there has been some comments made by my opponent on this, and I guess he’s forgotten four years ago. Four years ago, I was involved in a hotly contested primary. My opponent was for an income tax, and I made it clear I did not support it. I haven’t changed my mind…”
Seattle Weekly, 05/05/2004: “Gregoire is flatly opposed to a state income tax.”
Spokesman Review, 07/18/2004: “Democratic rival Christine Gregoire is against an income tax…”

Truth: Republican Dino Rossi’s friends are launching this attack to try and hide his own abysmal record. He voted to raise the gas tax and voted for a $2,400 tax on nursing home patients.

Truth: As a senator, Republican Dino Rossi voted against working families, but he voted with his special interest friends 99 percent of the time – the same special interests that have spent nearly $2 million to prop up his campaign.

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Gaming Compact

Attack: BIAW is trying to attack Gov. Gregoire for stopping the largest expansion of gambling in state history.

Truth: Gov. Gregoire rejected the largest expansion of gambling in state history to protect our communities.

By rejecting the largest expansion of gambling in state history, Gov. Gregoire eliminated the possibility of revenue sharing.
Her decision was supported by the law enforcement community and the late King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng.

From Maleng in The Seattle Times, Nov. 22, 2005: “…I am also troubled by the popular notion of state "revenue sharing," which was also included in the proposed Spokane compact. ...I think it would place state government in a conflicted position as a business partner with the tribe. The state cannot effectively regulate gambling and manage gambling policy when it has a vested economic interest in gambling expansion.” Continue reading...
Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna said the negotiations were done in full compliance with state and federal law

From the Seattle P-I, July 25, 2008: "It was a negotiation," McKenna said. "It was conducted strictly in the framework of state and federal law and it produced a compact which was adopted strictly within the requirements of the framework of state and federal law. Period. And if anyone ever questions the process I would be happy to tell them that, to the letter, we believe the law was scrupulously followed." Continue reading...
Voters also rejected expansions of gambling in 1995, 1996 and 2004.

From James Vesely in The Seattle Times, Dec. 4, 2005: “…we are fortunate Gov. Christine Gregoire nixed a new compact with the Spokane Tribe…” Continue reading...

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Public Safety

Attack: Republican Dino Rossi and his friends are trying to attack Gov. Gregoire on crime.

Truth: Republican Dino Rossi has an abysmal record on public safety.

Crafted the budget before Gregoire took office that cut millions in funding for the supervision of thousands of felons
Released more than 14,000 felons early from prison and state supervision as a result of Rossi’s budget cuts
Opposed funding for a commitment center for sex offenders

Truth: Governor Gregoire was up to the challenge when she took office.

She was a tough-on-crime Attorney General and she’s been a tough-on-crime Governor.
The crime rate in Washington is the lowest it’s been in 14 years.
That’s why Gregoire’s been endorsed by every major police and law enforcement agency in Washington.

Truth: When it comes to taking on sex offenders, no one’s been tougher than Gov. Gregoire.

Created Operation Crackdown to take sex offenders off the streets
Required electronic ankle monitors to track sex offenders’ movement
Expanded a DNA registry for anyone convicted of sex crimes
Increased sentences for crimes committed by sex offenders
Invested in new prison space to make sure that criminals stay behind bars

Truth: Gov. Chris Gregoire has been taking on challenges and getting results to make our families and Washington safer.

Gov. Gregoire stands with law enforcement, Republican Dino Rossi stands with special interests.

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Foster Care

Attack: Republican Dino Rossi and his friends are trying to attack Gov. Gregoire for improving the child welfare system.

Truth: As a mother and former Attorney General, Gov. Chris Gregoire understands our values and what it takes to keep our children safe.

More than $50 million in new funding for child welfare
Faster child protective service investigations – serious cases are investigated within 24 hours – the previous standard was 72 hours
400 new caseworkers for child welfare to increase the attention given to each foster child

Truth: Gov. Chris Gregoire is getting results that help foster children.

Truth: Republican Dino Rossi is trying to hide the fact that he opposed increasing the number of foster care case workers, opposed funding to recruit and train foster parents and opposed providing healthcare to foster parents.

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Transportation

Attack: The BIAW is trying to attack Gov. Gregoire for making transportation a priority.

Truth: Under Gov. Gregoire’s leadership there have been real results on transportation after years of neglect.

130 projects have been completed under her leadership. (see all the projects)
Voters upheld these critical projects by rejecting an initiative which would have canceled the investments.
In the face of rising concrete, steel and gas prices, 91 percent of the projects have been completed on time and nearly as many on budget. The Tacoma Narrows bridge was completed on time and more than $100 million under budget.
While our highway and ferry system have been neglected for decades, Gov. Gregoire has taken steps to build five new ferries, make our highways safer and reduce congestion.

Truth: Gov. Gregoire’s Republican opponent opposed improvements to roads, bridges and the ferry system as a state senator in Olympia. Just check the record...

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