Inslee statement: “We’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation. I’m ready to pass the torch.”
Gov. Jay Inslee announced today he does not plan to seek a fourth term. Inslee was most recently re-elected in 2020, making him only the second Washington state governor to serve three consecutive terms.
“Serving the people as governor of Washington state has been my greatest honor. During a decade of dynamic change, we’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation. I’m ready to pass the torch.
“Our last decade of Washington’s storied history is one of growth and innovation. I am proud to have played a role in our state’s leadership on so many fronts. We’ve passed the nation’s best climate policies, the most successful family leave benefits, the best college scholarship programs, a more fair legal justice system, and the most protective actions against gun violence. We’ve shown that diversity is a strength worth fighting for. This has been ten years of dynamic success.
“As governor, I have seen my role as inspiring our state ever forward and ever higher. I’m gratified to be able to say that this approach has worked to improve Washingtonians lives in many ways and many places.
“Now is the time to intensely focus on all we can accomplish in the next year and a half, and I intend to do just that. I look forward to continued partnership with legislators and community leaders to address Washington’s homelessness crisis, speed our efforts to expand behavioral health services, continue our fight against climate change, and continue making Washington a beacon of progress for all.”
Highlighted achievements since 2013:
Passing nation-leading climate policies to drive down emissions and invest more equitably in overburdened communities.
Establishing the state’s Clean Energy Fund to promote development and deployment of clean energy technologies.
Passing the Clean Energy Transformation Act to achieve 100% clean power by 2045; Climate Commitment Act to establish a cap-and invest program with strong equity provisions; clean buildings policies to reduce emissions in homes and offices; and clean fuels and clean transportation policies to electrify the state’s ferries and promote electric vehicles.
Establishing Washington state as a sub-national leader on climate by co-founding the U.S. Climate Alliance, Ocean Acidification Alliance, and America is All In, and helping lead the Pacific Coast Collaborative and Under2 Coalition.
Improving equity across Washington’s legal justice system.
Prioritizing more diverse judicial appointments.
Establishing a Marijuana Justice Initiative to clear misdemeanor conviction records.
Placing a moratorium on Washington’s death penalty – a position that was ultimately affirmed by the state Supreme Court due to its unequal and racially biased application, and subsequently struck from state law.
Establishing a statewide effort to improve reentry services for people transitioning from incarceration into the community.
Promoting policies that consistently rank Washington among the best states for business and for workers, thanks to the state’s strong economy and workforce as well as programs for working families such as paid family leave, a high minimum wage, and the new Working Families Tax Credit.
Taking decisive measures to protect the health and safety of Washingtonians during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in one of the lowest death rates in the country.
Fully funding Washington’s K-12 education system for the first time in over a decade as determined by the McCleary case, and expanding financial aid to make Washington’s program among the most generous in the nation.
Enacting the nation’s most generous paid family and medical leave program, offering up to 16 weeks of paid leave for every working Washingtonian.
Providing more affordable health care options to all Washingtonians by making Washington one of the 10 leading states for fully implementing the Affordable Care Act and expanding eligibility for Medicaid. Inslee continues to promote policies to strengthen access to health care such as requiring insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions, creating a low-cost “public option” style insurance plan known as Cascade Care, and capping insulin costs to $35 per month.
Helping to establish Washington as a leader in gun violence prevention by banning bump stocks, high capacity magazines, “ghost guns,” and assault weapons sales, as well as requiring safety training and a 10-day waiting period prior to purchase and enhancing accountability for manufacturers and retailers.
Pushing back on Republican efforts to roll back abortion rights and gender-affirming care by strengthening legal protections for providers and patients and expanding access.
Promoting diversity and belonging as one of Washington’s strengths by welcoming refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine; holding the first-ever raising of the Juneteenth and Pride flags at the Capitol; and establishing a new statewide Office of Equity, as well as a new LGBTQ Commission and Women’s Commission.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS...
Inslee announces special session date to take up drug possession law (details)
New suite of climate laws continue path to 100% clean energy future.
Washington’s path to 100% clean electricity by 2045 becomes clearer as Gov. Inslee and lawmakers celebrate achievements of this year’s legislative session. (details)
Comment on proposed rule to boost recycled content in plastic bags, containers (details)
Boston Harbor Access Area to close temporarily for safety and site improvements (details)
Washington Supreme Court Will Visit and Hear Cases at Whidbey Island May 10-11.
Washington Supreme Court justices will visit Whidbey Island for visits to local school districts then a community town hall May 10 at 2:30 p.m., and hearings for three court cases May 11 at 9 a.m. The town hall and the hearings will be held at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, (WICA) and will be open to the public and include time for questions from the audience. (details)
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
KILMER, BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE RESILIENCY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
BIPARTISAN RESILIENT AIRPORTS ACT AIMS TO ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AGAINST NATURAL DISASTERS BY EXPANDING FEDERAL AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY (details)
Cantwell Presses DOI Secretary on Federal Resources to WA to Combat Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
state has at least 113 unsolved cases involving missing Indigenous people; Cantwell: “Clearly, we don't have enough resources here”; Friday is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day (details)
Cantwell Announces $2 Million to Support Small Shipyard Infrastructure
Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter of support for Everett Ship Repair to receive grant (details)
Murray, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Tax Burden for Public Service Nurses
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) teamed up with Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and John Boozman (R-AR) to introduce their bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act, legislation to ensure that nurses in the federal Nurse Corps are not required to pay federal income tax on their student loan forgiveness and scholarships.(details)
Senator Murray Tells MSNBC’s Katy Tur: “The House is Offering Chaos—Paying Our Bills & Negotiating Spending are Separate” (details)
3) WORLD & NATION
WORLD HEADLINES:
Escaping Sudan: Home alone, with warplanes overhead
WHO chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency.
Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a Press Conference in Brasilia, Brazil--USUN
FACT SHEET: U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Defense Guidelines DOD
NATION:
Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on New Nation’s Report Card on History and Civics Education.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued the following statement on the latest Nation’s Report card showing a decline in history and civics scores for eighth graders:
“The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress further affirms the profound impact the pandemic had on student learning in subjects beyond math and reading. It tells us that now is not the time for politicians to try to extract double-digit cuts to education funding, nor is it the time to limit what students learn in U.S. history and civics classes. We need to provide every student with rich opportunities to learn about America’s history and understand the U.S. Constitution and how our system of government works. Banning history books and censoring educators from teaching these important subjects does our students a disservice and will move America in the wrong direction.”
FDA Approves First Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine
Arexvy Approved for Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older--FDA
4) BUSINESS
Are you America's Top Small Business 2023?
The U.S. Chamber is recognizing small businesses that are driving economic growth, innovating and creating jobs.--US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
National Small Business Week: IRS.gov offers A-Z resources for small businesses--IRS
A Clear Look at the Eyeglass Rule.
5) IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS
Washington State Archives invites local government agencies to apply for records management grants.
https://www.sos.wa.gov/office/news-releases.aspx#/news/1490
OLYMPIA — State funding is now available to local governments through Washington State Archives’ Local Records Grant Program.
The Local Records Grant Program helps local government agencies upgrade their technological resources for records management and retention, and better respond to public-records requests. Since its inception in 2005, the program has awarded more than $4 million to hundreds of agencies including cities, towns, and counties; fire, school, hospital, port, and public-utility districts; transit authorities; and more.
Qualified agencies and entities can apply online. The application form has been revised and simplified to include multiple-choice and short-answer questions for a streamlined grant process. The application deadline is Friday, May 26.
During the summer, an Archives Advisory Committee of county and city officials and association representatives will review applications and send recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of State. Grant recipients will be announced in mid-August.
“The Local Records Grant Program demonstrates our commitment to helping resource-strapped local governments preserve and protect their vital, irreplaceable records,” said Washington State Archivist Heather Hirotaka. “Records management can be painstaking and challenging work, but what our local governments are able to achieve with the help of these grants is amazing. We are grateful for the opportunity to support their efforts to better manage their records.”
Washington State Archives will host a webinar Tuesday, May 16, to help local government agencies and entities prepare their grant applications. A prerecorded version is also available. Visit Washington State Archives online for more information, including eligibility requirements and previous grant recipients.
A division of the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archives collects and preserves the state’s historical records and makes them available to the public, including government agencies, researchers, historians, and journalists. With branches in Bellevue, Bellingham, Cheney, Ellensburg, and Olympia, the State Archives offers access to records for research and records-management education and training for local and state agency staff.
Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees, and administers the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission work session for 5/8/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05082023-800
Clallam County Commission regular meeting for 5/9/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05092023-797
PORT OF PORT ANGELES SPECIAL MEETING
May 8, at 9:am
City of Sequim Council meeting for 5/8/23
https://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2817
City of Forks Council meeting for 5/8/23
https://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Agenda-2023-05-08.pdf
Clallam County PUD meeting for 5/8/23
https://clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/5-8-23-WEB-Packet.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 5/8/23
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/71a073f7-9578-493b-b53e-b1cba73fc2c1
Port of Port Townsend meeting for 5/10/23
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-05-10-CommMtg-Agenda.pdf
Weekly devotional
BIBLE VERSE: James 5:16 (New King James Version)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Weekly Bible Study
The Words in Red, by Terry Wayne Benton
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/WordsInRed.html
Free bible studies (WBS)
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
Learn English using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
1233 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
The Chosen: About the life of Christ
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
THIS WEEK'S VIDEOS
Texas as We Know It Could Be OVER' | Glenn TV | Ep 275.
America is dealing with a border crisis, an economic crisis, and a constitutional crisis — all at the same time. On today's Friday Exclusive, as the southern border prepares for a massive influx of illegal immigrants due to the upcoming expiration of Title 42, Glenn paints a horrific future for Texas if the border isn't secured. Plus, he shows footage from El Paso that proves border cities are beyond overwhelmed. But first, with the economy crumbling and banks crashing, you may be worrying about your bank account. Glenn puts SOME of those fears to rest while addressing the economic turmoil heading our way. Lastly, as Glenn lays out all the problems our country is facing, he tells us that those in charge of fixing the issues don't give him much hope. But we can always trust that Kamala Harris can handle artificial intelligence, right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BdQ62F-GsQ
Sunday Worship Service - 4/30/2023--Great Lakes Church of Christ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgtTbGVPeuc
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly Publication, every Saturday-- Publisher, Peter Ripley
