In just 12 hours, we’re closing the books on our first major fundraising deadline since the end of the legislative session — and I’d love to hear from you to make sure we reach our $10,000 goal.
Our work doesn’t stop when the campaign is over. The grassroots community and momentum we built during my campaign for governor were critical components in our successful efforts to expand Medicaid, increase education funding, and defend against the attacks on critical services for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Our opponents will not give up and we have to be ready.
It’s clear from the Republican-controlled State Senate budget proposals they expected my grassroots supporters, like you, to just stop working as soon as the campaign was over.
But together, we proved they were wrong — by standing up, speaking out, and holding the line when they tried to drag our state backward.
Now we’re facing another challenge. July 31 at midnight is our first fundraising deadline since the legislative session ended. We need to reach our $10,000 July fundraising goal to make sure we can keep fighting to close unnecessary tax loopholes, create jobs, and fully fund public education.
Our opponents are watching to see if you and I have what it takes to keep standing up and fighting on the critical issues facing our state.
And make no mistake about it: We have work to do.
This year, Senate Republicans failed to close unnecessary tax loopholes and create a long-term funding solution for our public schools. They stopped efforts to bring forth bipartisan legislation like the Dream Act and the Reproductive Parity Act.
And they failed to bring to a vote and pass a transportation package to keep people and goods flowing across our state.
That just means we have to keep fighting — harder than ever — to deliver on the promise I made to wake up every morning laser-focused on creating jobs and strengthening the economy.
Together we can keep up the fight, and together we can win it, but I need you to stand with me now.
English: , member of the United States House of Representatives (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This year’s legislative session proved one important point: the Working Washington Agenda that we brought to Olympia is very different than that of the Republican controlled state Senate.
Surprised?
Well, all of the early talk about bipartisanship had me hoping we could move forward on issues that actually had bipartisan support like the DREAM Act, the Reproductive Parity Act, and fixing our transportation system.
Unfortunately, the Senate Majority Coalition was big on bipartisan rhetoric and short on action. None of these bills were ever brought to the Senate floor for a vote! Luckily we were able to prevent the state Senate from going backwards on many key funding and policy issues.
With your support we said, “no” to continued cuts to our most vulnerable citizens. And, together we said, “no” to policy that would have hurt working families and our environment.
In order to succeed, we’re going to have to face down the inertia and inaction we fought against during this past legislative session. They’re already gearing up to stop us from delivering on critical issues our state needs — like closing unnecessary tax loopholes, creating good paying jobs, and fully funding public education.
I’m proud that, in spite of resistance from the Senate Republicans, we expanded Medicaid. I’m proud that we delivered an additional $1 billion in funding for our schools — a down payment required by our constitution to fully fund our children’s education. And I’m proud that we stopped our opponents from sneaking their out-of-step ideas into the budget.
Having you standing with me made that possible. But not everyone’s happy.
I will continue to fight to close unnecessary tax breaks in order to fund education for the long haul. Oil companies and Senate Republicans both know that I will continue to press on until we get it done.
As you know, political campaigns do not end when you get elected. The grassroots movement we built during the campaign is essential as we work to build innovative industries that benefit all Washingtonians.
Your support today will give us the resources we need to get things done. Thank you for your tremendous support every day. Together we can accomplish hard things.
English: , member of the United States House of Representatives (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m happy to report that Sunday I was able to sign a new operating budget for the state of Washington and avert a partial government shutdown.
It is unfortunate it took this long to reach a budget agreement, but I am pleased that we delivered on many of the key principles you and I fought for during my campaign.
We made our budget priorities clear: funding education, protecting vital services, and closing tax loopholes. We didn’t get everything we wanted — that’s the nature of negotiation. But, with your help, we stayed strong, and I am pleased that we were able to pass a budget that delivers $1 billion in education funding and protects vital programs for Washington’s kids and seniors.
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The budget I signed Sunday is a down payment on our commitment to fulfilling our legal and moral duty to fund education for our children — but it is clearly only the beginning.
What this budget is not is a vehicle for irresponsible, bad policy — like devastating cuts to essential services for our most vulnerable neighbors, or dramatic anti-labor, anti-environment, and anti-consumer policy initiatives.
I’m proud of that — and you should be, too — because if you and I hadn’t held the line, that’s exactly what it would have been.
Along with these key wins on the budget, I’m pleased that the Medicare expansion made possible by Obamacare is going to increase access for Washingtonians and create jobs.
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Unfortunately, it’s also clear we have a lot of work to do.
I am disappointed we were not able to reach an agreement with senate Republicans to close a number of unnecessary tax loopholes. This year’s improved revenue forecast helped us meet our short-term goals, and made clear that we did need to find new revenue, but I remain committed to securing a long-term education funding strategy by fixing these loopholes in upcoming sessions.
I’m also disappointed that senate Republicans refused to bring to a vote to pass a much-needed transportation package.
Our transportation infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy, and continuing to ignore it is not an option.
But today I want to thank you again for standing by us, making your voice heard, and keeping up the fight for the working Washington we’re building together.
We’re going to need you again in the weeks and months to come, and I’m proud to have you by my side.
As we wrap up the second week of our second special session, I want to share an update from Olympia.
While quite a bit of time has passed, my priorities remain the same. Every day, I am working to protect our commitment to funding education, while keeping our vital services to our most vulnerable intact, and every day, I’m pushing to pass a transportation package to protect our communities and grow jobs.
All over the state, Washington’s transportation infrastructure helps people get to work, moves crops from the field to the store, and carries freight to market.
Keeping that system safe and strong is mission critical to our state’s economy and it’s one of state government’s most important responsibilities. The recent Skagit Bridge collapse is a stark reminder of the critical role our transportation system plays in our communities and economy.
My team, along with a diverse coalition of stakeholders, is working day and night to get a transportation package passed that keeps Washington moving forward.
But this isn’t just about supporting the economic activity moving through our transportation system — it’s also about the jobs a transportation package would create. If we can come together in Olympia and pass a strong transportation package, it will generate well-paying, middle-class jobs in every corner of the state and help jump start Washington’s economic recovery.
My team and I are also working hard to support our long-term economic recovery by meeting our moral and constitutional duty to fully fund our kids’ education. My budget principles continue to reflect my values — making sure our kids get the best education without continuing to slash the critical services kids need to help them be successful in school.
Your support, and your commitment to the values we fought for during my campaign, helps me stand strong for our shared beliefs every day.
As the budget deadline nears and we seek to avoid a government shutdown, I will continue to insist on a budget compromise that reflects our values. Thank you for your continued engagement. I’ll keep you posted.
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