Photo by clare jensen
GRILL GREGOIRE. Governor Chris Gregoire answers questions from the public at her final Town Hall meeting Nov. 5 at Stadium High School.
A circle of Pierce County citizens gathered around the governor for a town hall-style meeting Nov. 5 at Stadium High School.
This was the final stop in a six-session trip that Governor Chris Gregoire took around the state in hopes of gathering input and solutions from the people.
Gregoire took a similar tour last year and started the meeting by addressing all the changes and progress she has seen throughout the last legislative session.
She noted that the areas of biggest public concern last year were health care, education and the economy, and gave examples of how the state was working to address those concerns. She said because of public input, the legislature made those things their top priorities.
"[The government needs to] listen to the people themselves. If we do that, good things will happen, people will be better served," she said.
Giving support to parents as a child's first teacher to better prepare them for school, as well as a plan to provide four years of college for free to every student who "keeps their nose clean and maintains a C average," were just two steps the legislature has taken in regard to education, Gregoire noted.
The governor also proclaimed that by 2010 Washington will lead the nation in health services for low-income children.
She also noted that in 2004 Washington had the highest unemployment rate in the nation, tied with Oregon, and now Pierce County has the lowest rate ever in the history of the state.
Similar themes were addressed again this year, with education, social services and global warming the biggest issues of the Tacoma audience.
Veterans and homeless services were brought up from time to time, with Gregoire recognizing that about 50 percent of homeless are veterans, and that homelessness needed to be addressed period.
When a man asked, "How will we fix healthcare for people with diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's?" Gregoire responded with a general idea.
"50 percent of [healthcare] costs are caused by 5 percent of the population – those who need chronic care," she said, adding that driving down those costs alone would make healthcare more affordable to all.
"I believe Washington can lead the globe by investing," she said before stating her belief that cures for chronic diseases are in Washington's research laboratories today.
The topic of healthcare for small businesses and employees was brought up as well. Gregoire said she had a plan of action, which would allow for provider choices for employees and their families.
She said that 600,000 citizens of Washington are uninsured, and that is not accounting for the under-insured. "We can't live with the status quo – it's not working," she said. "Let's try something new… Imagine what could happen."
The governor stated that Washington's math system needed to be turned around; only 50 percent of current math teachers have a college major or minor in math and there should be no more than three math curriculums in the state.
She also addressed the fact that No Child Left Behind needed to be revised when a mother of a special education student asked how her child could be expected to pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) at grade level. Gregoire said she would bring this topic up in Washington, D.C. this week.
One citizen thanked Gregoire for supporting a 50 percent carbon emissions reduction, but requested that she go one step further to make it an 80 percent reduction by 2040.
"I'm happy to set another goal," she said, adding that the focus really needs to be put on "the biggest nemesis: automobiles," as well as cooperating with developing nations. She said she is in the process of joining in a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency for not moving forward with the Clean Car Initiative, and also said that China plans to continue development, but will import any "green materials" the state can produce.
"[Let's] lead not just in our state and country, but around the world."
One woman asked for the government to put the spotlight on transportation and the environment and encouraged Gregoire to hold the public accountable for their impact on those issues.
When a citizen brought up the topic of a disproportionate number of minorities in prison, Gregoire brought the solution back to education.
"The No. 1 reason [people go to prison] – they didn't get an early childhood education," she said, and the public agreed through their applause.
She demands that investing money upfront is the best way to save it in the long run.
"For every dollar we put into education, we get $7 back," she said, because educated people are less likely to go to prison and use state-funded social services.
After the much-appreciated statement about early education for children, a woman from the state Department of Early Learning asked if the state would establish a higher living wage for early educators.
"We're trying to increase the quality of early childhood education, but also the training and salaries, and respect for the profession," Gregoire said.
Overall, the meeting was filled with thanks and confirmation to the governor with the work she has accomplished thus far – the biggest plea was for her to continue what she started in the last legislative session.
The only uncomfortable remark was made by a gentleman who accused the governor's administration of letting immigrants work construction in the state – thus impeding on his income. The exchange got a little tense, as Gregoire would not accept the blame and insisted that border control and immigration were federal issues.
Gregoire closed the 90-minute meeting by suggesting that if people want to see changes, they need to be willing to pay for them.
"If we believe in education, health, economic development and helping the less fortunate, then we need to provide a budget that is reflective of the views in the state of Washington."
