Chris Gregoire > Our Future

Friends,

Before I was elected, our state had the highest unemployment rate in the country, a projected $2.2 billion deficit and 46,000 kids in danger of losing healthcare coverage.

But we’ve been taking on these challenges and getting results for our families and communities.

Today, our state has more than 200,000 jobs and a substantial budget surplus. Thousands more adults and 84,000 more kids have healthcare coverage. We have more law enforcement with better crime fighting tools.

Our state government has less red tape. The programs that don’t get us results are being cut, and the programs that do get us results are being strengthened.

These results have helped our families and friends get ahead – these are results we need to continue.

• Jobs & Economy – I share your concerns about the national economy. For three years, we’ve been getting results that have been building a strong economic foundation. We have more than 200,000 new jobs, double the exports and a business climate Forbes Magazine calls one of the top-three in the nation. But we must keep getting results that build a strong economic foundation.

• Healthcare – Healthcare is a right, not a perk. Everybody knows that healthier kids do better in school and that healthier adults do better in life. Let’s continue to get results that make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

• Public Safety – My top priority is the safety of our children and families. Let’s continue to make our neighborhoods safer by tracking down and arresting more sex offenders and providing law enforcement the tools they need to succeed. I want to keep getting results that help protect our children and families.

• Education – All of our children deserve a world-class education. We’ve been taking on the challenge of education by improving early education, rewarding nationally certified teachers and increasing access to higher education and apprenticeships. These results are helping our children succeed. All of our children deserve four more years of getting results that continue to help them learn.

• Transportation – Improving our transportation system after over a decade of neglect will take time. Today, we’ve completed 129 highway projects that are reducing congestion, improving safety and keeping our economy strong. But we can – and will – keep getting results that reduce congestion and increase safety on our highways.

• Cleaner, Greener Washington – I’m proud that we’re getting results to give our children the legacy of a cleaner, greener Washington. Let’s keep taking on the challenges of climate change, cleaning up Puget Sound and reducing our dependence on polluting fossil fuels. Let’s keep getting results for a cleaner, greener Washington.

• Agriculture – We’re helping our farmers take on the challenge of succeeding in the global economy. Let’s keep getting results that help them succeed by continuing common-sense improvements to regulations, more international trade and better agricultural research.

• Fiscal Responsibility – We’ve cut red tape and programs that don’t get us results, but we must continue to take on this challenge. Let’s spend another four years getting results that make our state more fiscally responsible.

If you want to continue taking on these challenges and getting results, I need your support.

Sincerely,