Jay Inslee Campaign for Governor Is Off and Running

So Jay Inslee is in. 
While virtually no one is surprised by this news, it is still exciting. 

I have seen Jay Inslee inspire hope many times before. He gave a beautiful tribute to his friend Rep Gabbrielle Giffords on the day she was shot last winter.  Jay Inslee has been a champion for clean energy and the environment for many years and wrote a book about his ideas for promoting is called

"Apollo's Fire". 

At a Legislative Caucus in 2004, I saw him electrify a room full of hundreds of Democrats. This was in the midst of the unpopular Iraq War, in which he had the courage to stand up and oppose it.

In a statement to supporters today he said this:

I'm running for governor because we need to build a working Washington. We need a leader who understands the economic challenges and financial difficulties faced by the people of Washington — a leader who has the expertise to create jobs, the vision to create jobs, and the determination to create jobs.

 I sincerely hope he can electrify the base like he's done before.

It will be exciting to have our local congressman become the leader of our state.  While Rob McKenna has some solid experience, he may not have the right touch to win the hearts of the King County and nearby voters. That will be the test.


Go Jay! 

Rep Marko Liias Expected to Announce Run for Congress in 1st District

According to a story in the Everett Herald, Rep Marko Liias of Edmonds is likely to announce an exploratory committee to take steps towards a campaign for Congress in the 1st Congressional District, now held by Rep Jay Inslee. Inslee is reportedly looking to run for Gov if Chris Gregoire decides not to seek a third term. Liias would only run for Inslee's seat if he decides to run for Governor next year.

Rep Marko Liias (D) Dist-21
Edmonds

But, Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio is rumored to also be considering running in the 1st District, if he gets "redistricted" out of his own in Ohio.  Kucinich is planning to be a guest speaker at a fundraiser for the 32nd District Democrats, next Sunday morning at the Richmond Masonic Lodge.

Everett Herald -

"...Rep. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, is expected next week to announce he's forming a committee to explore a run for Inslee's seat - should the incumbent not seek re-election. 

Liias said the purpose of the committee “is to determine if I am the right candidate and is this the right time. And it is definitely to send a signal inside Washington and outside the state that I'm serious about it.”

Marko Liias is in his second elected term in the State House, and has championed many progressive issues and challenged the main stream with alternative legislative proposals, such as the Trans-Alta House Bill this session. He now serves on the Technology, Energy & Communications
Transportation (Vice Chair) Committees.

Before he was appointed to the Legislature, he served on the Mukilteo City Council. 

Congressman Jay Inslee's Statement on Broadband Service and Net Neutrality

Congressman Jan Inslee's office released this statement yesterday on the Google-Verizon "deal".
This is something that should concern everyone who depends on the Internet for information and discourse.

Congressman Inslee has sponsored legislation , the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009.


The issue was covered originally on Publicola Blog.

This afternoon’s announcement from Google and Verizon falls far short of the net neutrality principles necessary to protect consumers online. I’m disappointed that such esteemed leaders would put forward a policy proposal that fails to protect the very foundation of the Internet’s success – open access for all.  Many of us have been warning for a number of years that broadband service providers would begin to use a lack of net neutrality regulations to prioritize their increasingly diverse business offerings and content, thereby jeopardizing open Internet access.  Today’s announcement is one more reason that the FCC must act to reclassify broadband and protect consumers online.  The American people deserve nothing less than a free and open Internet where ideas and innovation are allowed to flourish, and today’s proposal has made it even clearer that we cannot rely on industry alone to do just that.