‘Evergreen and ever going forward,’ Inslee delivers final state of the state address Wednesday before soon departing governor’s office

Outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his final State of the State address to both chambers of the Washington Legislature on Tuesday.
Though the yearly speech sets a tone for the 103 days of lawmaking, Inslee’s address on the final full day of 12 years leading the state had an air of farewell.
Inslee’s first introduction to state politics was in the state House of Representatives 35 years ago, where many political newcomers started their lawmaking careers Monday.
“Today, I notice the new faces around Olympia. I see fresh visions for where we want to take our state, leaders who want to make these dreams for Washington reality as fast as possible,” Inslee said. “My freshman class quickly saw that change often takes patience and resilience, but think about the progress we have made and the time and efforts it took to make it.”
Inslee outlined major policies of the state’s history, like legalizing same-sex marriage, removing the death penalty and instituting a ban on assault weapons, that make the state “a beacon of progress” and “light to the world.”
“The secret of our success is we don’t leave anybody behind,” he said.
His speech cast a dim premonition for the state’s financial outlook as it grapples with an estimated $12 billion shortfall over the next four years. Inslee recalled the “dark days” of the Great Recession, when state officials reduced spending by $11 billion and made cuts to programs he said residents are still feeling.
Funding was cut for higher education, teacher pay, social safety nets for the elderly and poor, and mental health care, Inslee listed.
“It’s fitting to look at this budget differently,” Inslee said. “Abstract, numerical cuts actually mean concrete, personal pain.”
Cuts of over $2 billion, which he proposed in December, he warned may lead to a “slide back to those dark days.”
Incoming Gov. Bob Ferguson shared plans Thursday to reduce spending by over $4 billion over four years.
Inslee spoke generally against Donald Trump’s incoming administration to the ire of some Republican legislators.
“Look, our state will work with anyone on policies that are positive for Washington,” Inslee said. “But we will not bend the knee to a would-be authoritarian’s worst impulses. We will follow the Constitution.”
These remarks were instantly met by hisses and groans of Republican lawmakers sitting to the right of the chamber, five or six walking out of Inslee’s speech, including state Republican party Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen , and Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima.
“I wasn’t going to listen to the man who was the last to give up emergency powers in the nation, and fought any legislative checks on his power, make false inflammatory claims about our incoming president,” Corry later posted on X.
Though not sugarcoating the budget deficit, Inslee urged lawmakers to prioritize the needs of Washingtonians as they mull budget cuts and pass bills this session. As he prepares to vacate his role overseeing the state he loves and pass the baton to Ferguson, Inslee said he’s pleased where Washington is headed – as long as lawmakers stay the course set in years past.
“In this moment, our moment, I see a state that is evergreen and ever going forward,” Inslee said.