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Gov. Gregoire Values: Responsibility, Opportunity and Service

For Immediate Release: January 10, 2006

Governor outlines past accomplishments and urges legislators to work with her to �Build on Our Success�

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire today delivered the annual �State of the State� address to legislators and other Washingtonians including former Governor Al Rosellini, Congressman Jay Inslee, Congressman Dave Reichert, King County Executive Ron Sims and members of the Consular Association of Washington.

�In the last year, I have been all around this great state and met a lot of people. I found their values and dreams are very similar,� said Governor Gregoire. �They value personal responsibility, service to others and providing new opportunities for our kids and families.�

Governor Gregoire highlighted accomplishments from the past year and urged legislators to �build on our success� by continuing improvements in education, health care, security and job creation.

�That foundation � the outstanding legislative session of 2005 � has already elevated Washington to a new level of opportunity,� said Governor Gregoire. �So in the spirit of responsibility, opportunity and service, let�s get to work and build on the foundation we created together last year.�

Governor Gregoire has proposed, as a part of her supplemental budget, making targeted investments to improve early learning, help high school students meet state standards, clean up Puget Sound, help reduce dependence on foreign oil and provide heating assistance to low-income families. She will also set aside a portion of new revenue � a result of a growing economy � to address education and health care needs next year.



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Governor Gregoire
State of the State Address
page 2

Governor Gregoire also noted former legislators who passed away in 2005 including: Senators Dick Hemstad (R-Olympia, 1981-1985); Martin Durkan (D-Issaquah, 1957- 1975) and Bob Bailey (D-Raymond, 1953 - 1977) and Representatives Ruth Fisher (D-Tacoma, 1983 - 2003), Charles Kilbury (D-Pasco 1970 -1979), Stan Bradley (D-South King County, 1971-72), Russ Austin (R of South King County, 1980), Geraldine McCormick (D-Spokane 1969 - 1982), and Speaker Tom Swayze (R-Tacoma, 1965 - 1973).

She recognized the former legislators� values of �spirit, responsibility, opportunity and service to others.�

�They were Democrats and Republicans and each was emblematic of what our collective credo should be: that public service transcend partisanship and that politics is about getting real work done for Washington families,� said Governor Gregoire.

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